The Catholic Archbishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, has expressed confidence in Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration in Anambra State.
He said Soludo’s administration has within two years in office brought relative peace and stability to the state, and unprecedented development in all sectors of human existence.
The Bishop stated this while briefing Journalists at St. Patrick Cathedral Church Awka, on Wednesday.
The briefing according to him was to congratulate the governor on his forthcoming 2-year-in-office anniversary, scheduled to be held on Sunday, 17th March 2024 at the International Convention Centre Awka.
Bishop Ezeokafor noted that Governor Soludo’s road infrastructure development, within his two years in office has positively transformed the landscape of Anambra state and brought those at the grassroots to the mainstream of governance.
“The present administration has through its robust job creation programme opened up many windows of employment for thousands of youths, the three thousand teachers and four hundred health personnel employed immediately on its inception and the one youth two skill initiative and ten thousand youths under special skill training programme are great feats in the employment sector.
“I am not surprised by these laudable achievements because I knew that Soludo would perform credibly well. He applied for the job and he was massively voted for by Ndi-Anambra, therefore should be giving full support to enable him to actualise his vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous homeland in Nigeria.
“The Bishop observed that never in the history of the state has such a great number of roads including that of Awba-ofemili-Amasea road in Awka North Local Government Area flagged off for construction within two years of inception of any government and posited that all these developmental strides of the governor have demonstrated in practical terms the seriousness and commitment of the present administration to move Anambra state forward.
“As an observer, I have seen that the Governor knows what he is doing. I will score him high going by what he has done on road infrastructures and recruitment of teachers and health workers. Equipping and digitalization of schools and hospitals. I have gone around the state and see that he is putting up solid roads across the state. Distribution of laptops to ICT teachers, headteachers, principals of mission and government-owned schools
‘You can now move from Amansea to Awba Ofemili in Awka North Local Government Area. You can also drive from Amansea to Awa in Orumba North Local Government. Many roads have been constructed and reconstructed in Awka and Onitsha and its environs. I was at Ogbaru sometime ago and I witnessed a whole lot of quality work going on there. The basement, and smoothness of the roads are topnotch. I can attest to it.
Speaking on the areas he would want the Governor to beam his searchlight to, the Cleric expressed sadness over what he described as an epileptic power supply in the state, and incessant building collapse, even as he urged the Governor to go the way of Abia State in terms of power generation and also find a solution to the frequent collapse of buildings in Anambra.
‘With what is going on in Anambra State now, investors may begin to relocate to Abia State. We are happy with what Professor Barth Nnaji did. It took twenty years to come up but with proper arrangement, it cannot be more than three. We need such in the Anambra. With regular and adequate power supply the Dubai-Taiwan mantra would be easily and effortlessly achieved.
‘Another serious issue I would like the Governor to address is the issue of continuous collapse of buildings in Anambra State. It is not good for our image. It is appalling, to say the least. Whoever they are using should be changed. Contractors should be engaged and closely monitored,’ bishop Ezeokafor suggested.
The Catholic Prelate said that the Governor should be allowed to concentrate and deliver to Ndi Anambra all that he had promised to do, saying that even if they would criticize let it be constructive. I am not a supporter or a card-carrying member of any political party but I am speaking as a religious leader who has seen some people out of desperation write for writing’s sake.
‘We cannot have two governors at a time. It must be one and that man is Soludo. It is his time. Let us allow him to do the job he was elected to do. He needs no distraction. I am not a fan of unnecessary criticism. I know some are talking because of personal interests and concerns. Others have come and gone; Soludo will also do his bit and leave. Nobody will be there forever. It is his time. Let us give him all the support he deserves,’ Bishop Ezeokafor pleaded.
On the issue of the burial law, the Local Ordinary stated that Governor Soludo should not blamed at all for trying to enforce the law that had been made even before he came into office.
‘Soludo didn’t make the law, it is the Church that thought wise to come up with such laws. It is centred on the reduction of hardship occasioned by extravagant funerals. Because of what people are passing through during burials we decided to come up with the law. The government bought the idea and it was passed at the State’s House of Assembly. If you feel that there are areas you don’t like which, I doubt, go to the House of Assembly and have it changed. The Church is always for the poor. We are always on the side of the poor hence the law. If the Church is not there the arrogant society will swallow the poor up. We are there to ensure that such never happens,’ he emphasized.
