By Ifeyinwa Ogwo :
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo says that Anambra State will no longer accommodate and tolerates the use of thuggery popularly known as “Agbero” to intimidate people in the state.
Mr. Governor said this in a call-in interactive session held at the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) on Thursday, October 20th.
He noted that his government is doing everything possible to ensure that the state is free from thugs and guided by the rule of law.
“We want to democratize governance to the lowest level to ensure our community is governed democratically through democratic means to bring sanity to the state.
” We are drafting a new law that will be forwarded to the House of Assembly on governance and the community that will address a lot of issues relating to governance at the community level.
“Also, we will run a system whereby every elected Igwe or President General (PG) will be guided by a code of conduct that will be adhered to strictly,” he said.
Governor Soludo also addressed the issues raised on tax noting that it is of great importance to pay tax for the development of the state.
He exempted the wheelbarrow boys in the market and the poor from paying tax, noting that it is wrong to collect tax from them.
“A lot of people believe that the money that will be used to develop Anambra can be generated here if we all pay our taxes sincerely and under my watch, I will ensure your tax money is utilized judiciously.”
On the environmental status of the state, Gov. Soludo frown at the attitude of some people who litter the state through improper disposal of their refuse.
He pointed out that some women who roast corn by the roadside pour their waste inside the gutters which causes flooding in some parts of the state and potholes on the road.
“Cleanliness of the state is a collective effort of everyone that should be taken seriously and we are putting up measures to ensure the state becomes the cleanliness in the federation.”
He enjoined everyone to have waste bins in their cars, houses, tricycles, shuttle buses, and shops for proper disposal of their waste.
In some of the inputs made by those who called in during the program, Mr. Chinedu Okafor from Awkuzu thanked the governor for the roads he has flag-off so far and also solicit that more roads should be visited.
Mr. Ifeanyi, who called from Onitsha, informed the governor that some thuggery activities are still ongoing at Owerri road, Onitsha. He appealed for the state government’s prompt action.
Others who called in appealed to the governor to look into the security situation of the state, tax issuance, and rule of law.
