The United Orumba Association (UOA), a sociopolitical umbrella organization, which unites indigenes of both Orumba North and South Local Government Areas, has issued an urgent SOS to the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to declare his intention to run for a second term in office, in order to calm the frayed nerves of agitated Ndi Anambra, who are duly worried, that the massive gains made by his administration in the development of the state may be discontinued and consequently lost, should the Governor decide not to run for a second term in office.
Rising from a well attended meeting, the umbrella association, not only congratulated Governor Soludo on the three years anniversary of his impeccable administration in the state but also called on Ndi Anambra to join hands with them to urge the Governor to run for a second term in office. The association warned that it would be detrimental to the welfare of Ndi Anambra and the continued development of the state should the Governor decide not to continue in office after one term.
According to the President of the Association, Chief Obi Okoli, Onwa Nawfija , there are unprecedented indices that provoked the clarion call for the Governor to run for a second term. He said that every state needs an economically shrewd Governor like Soludo, who from the records, spent in Three years in office, just 65% of what was spent in the state in 2013 and 61% of what was spent in 2014. He said that this is the hallmark of probity and accountability and asked, which State does not want a Governor like Soludo and which state would like a Governor like Soludo to abandon his excellent works half way?
Chief Okoli reminded Ndi Anambra, of the extensive transformation of the State’s Primary Health Care, that has enabled pregnant women in the state to carry their pregnancies absolutely free of any charge, through full trimesters and deliver their babies under the care of professional doctors and nurses. He reminded also, that the Governor has promised to establish properly manned and well functioning Health Care Centers in every nook and cranny of the state before the end of the year.
Chief Okoli recalled that the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Anambra State Primary Health Care, Pharmacist Chisom Uchem and her board, recently emerged the best in the entire South East and won the overall prize as the best in the whole country. The State’s Primary Health Care won USD500,000 and USD 700,000 respectively for being the best in the South East and in Nigeria. Anambra State through the State Primary Health Care won 1.2 million dollars because Governor Soludo revamped it and put elegantly qualified personnel to be in charge, without resorting to nepotism or favouritism.
The umbrella organization questions the wisdom in changing a winning team and emphasized the need for continuity. The association boldly told the Governor that the state needs another four years of his tenure to get ongoing projects completed and for his administration to supervise finished projects according to the specifications of his administration’s Master Plan. The association bemoaned the calamitous tragedy which may befall such unprecedented projects as, the new Government House, the Fun City, Ekwulobia Roundabout, Okpoko Renewal project, where the Governor, for the first time in history, commissioned a General Hospital yesterday, hundreds of kilometers of high quality roads, crisscrossing the entire state and other numerous projects going on in the state presently, if the Governor should abdicate the governorship to another person.
The Association reminded Governor Soludo, that it was the emergence of a Pharaoh who did not know Moses that led to the 400 years of Hebrew slavery in Egypt. He pleaded with the Governor not to allow the slavery of the state in the hands of someone who does neither understand his mission nor vision, because that is what is going to happen if he fails to run again.
According to the group, it will be terrible for the state to revert to the state of nature, where life will again become short, nasty and brutish. It asked Governor Soludo to remember the scary moments of insecurity in the state before he came up with the ingenious introduction of Agunechemba and Udo Ga Achi. The association noted that peace is reigning in the state now because Soludo’s Agunechemba is constantly on patrol. It asked the Governor to think deeply about the security, lives and property of Ndi Anambra before he decides not to run.
Having weighed the consequences of Governor Soludo refusing to run for a second term, the group declared, that Ndi Anambra and posterity may forever hold him responsible for abandoning them half way to the promised land. The association reiterated that for the state to continue to progress and develop as it is presently doing under Governor Soludo, Ndi Anambra must come together to convince the Governor to run and save the state from the danger of a Governor who may not understand or share his mission and vision.
Chief Obi Okoli,
Onwa Nawfija,
President.
