By Engr Reuben Okafor,
The insecurity situation in Anambra State has now appeared insurmountable.
It’s becoming gangantuan. Just like the legendary Sambisa forest which our leaders and security chiefs made us believe is larger than Nigeria, hence cannot be swept by ground or aerial combat.
But one need to ask who actually benefits from our insecurity?
Gov Chukwuma Soludo must answer to Ndi Anambra and the world why the State’s security apparatus were (deliberately) withdrawn from Nnewi South Council area; a very busy border escape point.
Just recently, a President-General (PG) and his friend were shot dead in cold blood, while on their way home from attending a court session. This was another painful addition to the seeming endless list of unrestrained bloodshed under Soludo’s watch.
Surprisingly, instead of reinforcing security, the Governor chose to pull out operatives from that same volatile region. Who does that kind of thing at such a time? Except one who is completely incompetent, deliberately insensitive, complicit or all put together.
How can any serious government abandon a whole Council area that is a busy gateway to Enugu State, Imo, Abia and the South South States.
This same Council area was already struggling under the weight of violence, bloodshed especially when it’s the home of the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) gubernatorial candidate in the fast approaching Nov 8 poll.
Is this a targeted political maneuver disguised as administrative action? Is Soludo weaponizing insecurity to weaken perceived key opponents?
This is really no longer governance. This has become a very dangerous politics of bitterness.
This is playing with human lives.
This is not an isolated failure.
Let’s try to highlight a few here:
1. A pattern of neglect?:
Since 2022, above four hundred (400) violent criminal incidents have been recorded across the State. From cult clashes/murderous rampage, unknown gunmen attacks, to political assassinations. Yet, the State Government continues with its usual banal empty speeches while the killings persist.
2. Selective security?:
Why is it that security presence is always heightened in Awka and parts of Aguata, but constantly thinned out in Nnewi South, Ihiala, and Orumba South Council areas where APC political activities are heightened and more vigorous.
3. Soludo’s silence is too loud:
When the PG was murdered last week no form of response or visit came from the governor, nor any of his top aides, or emergency deployment. Just silence. Dead silence. This is the same man who rushed to the press during the Owo incident in Ondo State. But ignores his own backyard.
4. Security as a political tool?
Is Soludo using state apparatus to choke the opposition/her strongholds? Withdrawing security from Prince Ukachukwu’s Council area just as countdown to the coming election has begun reeks of desperation and below-the-belt dirty politics.
5. Anambra has no security blueprint:
In the run-up to the election that brought in his administration, Soludo had promised the citizens “a Technology-Driven Security arrangement” in 2022.
So, where are the drones? Where is the command centers? Where is the community policing model?
All we’ve seen are media photos and dead promises while citizens die daily.
The withdrawal of security from Nnewi South Council is not just administrative negligence, it is a criminal sabotage It is time we say it clearly. Prof Soludo has woefully failed to secure Anambra State. Whereas security is the first charge assignment of any government.
If the blood of a PG cannot provoke action, then who is safe under this Soludo’s Anambra State government?
Engr Reuben Okafor, writes from Ukpor
