*Promises to construct road, water, improve power, clear drainage
Alphonsus Nweze
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State true to his promise during his electioneering, on Friday visited Okpoko, sprawling suburb of Onitsha, where he declared a state of emergency on the community.
Consequently, Governor Soludo said he would immediately set up a tastkorce that will bring to reality his dream of turning the community into a habitable one.
Soludo who for about four hours transversed the community with the Deputy Governor, Dr.Ibezim, said the four major infrastructures he would tackle in Okpoko include road construction, provision of water, clearing of Sakamori drainage system and improvement of power supply.
But Prof. Soludo who said that he came to fulfill his electioneering campaign, declared he would set up a committee to thrash out other needs of Okpoko community.
He said in the next one week, he would send the list of his commissioners to the State House of Assembly and if they approve it expeditiously, he would award the contract for the construction of Okpoko roads immediately.
The former Central Bank of NIgeria ( CBN) Governor, said Okpoko would benefit from the first set of roads that he would award in the state.
“You can take it to the bank by April work will start in Okpoko,” he said.
He noted that the Sakamoris Drainage were blocked coupled with heaps of refuse, stressing that they must be cleared for easy passage of flood.
The Governor also promised to provide water through boreholes as a temporary measure as well as discussed with the Eastern Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) on how to improve power in Okpoko.
He however told the residents that to help him realise this dream of rebuilding Okpoko, they would also contribute something.
“You have something to do to make Anambra better. Every body has something to put,” he said.
He said the people must be ready to pay tax and desist from putting refuse into the drainage system, which contribute to the blockage of the Sakamoris.
Soludo also announced the immediate and total ban of touting whether in the parks or markets.
He said the collection of any form of revenue in the state should stop, warning that anybody seen collecting revenue should be regarded as a thief and dealt with accordingly.
The Governor said there is a plan for the transporters including Keke drivers to pay directly to the bank instead of paying to hoodlums who extorted them.
He also warned market leaders to avoid stopping anybody in the market in the name of collecting revenues.
Soludo said he would create a programme of skill acquisition for touts, urging them to avail themselves of that opportunity but warned that any of them who does not want peace in the state should better relocate from Anambra State.
The visit to Okpoko yesterday which was Soludo’s first major appointment after his swearing on Thursday March 17, 2021 was hailed by many residents who regarded it as a departure from the past.
He said that Okpoko is in his priority list and promised that he would also install street lights on the roads he would build.
He left Okpoko to Porthacourt Road, Niger Street, Creek Road and Main Market, which incidentally are some of the major failed portions of Onitsha.
