Amidst the rising insecurity in Anambra State, Labour Party stalwart and Governorship hopeful in the 2025 Guber Election in the state, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of not taking firm, resolute, and sustainable actions towards addressing the problem.
Ozigbo said instead, that Soludo has been all about rhetorics and public shows.
In Anambra today, cases of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, farmers-herders clashes, cult and drug-related criminality, and communal disputes, have risen to an all-time high, with many citizens distancing themselves from the state for fear of insecurity.
Speaking in his latest edition of the Wake Up Series on Tuesday, Ozigbo tasked Soludo to pay more attention and take positive action towards tackling the insecurity challenges bedeviling the State, describing insecurity as a major problem in Anambra.
According to Ozigbo, it is utterly unacceptable that Soludo could not secure the lives of the Anambra people, as it is the primary role of the government according to Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that ‘Security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’
The 2025 Anambra Governorship hopeful reminded Governor Soludo of the pledges he made in his contract with the Anambra people, regretting that perhaps, the Governor did not understand the enormity of the primary role of security in accomplishing all other welfare needs of the people.
Accusing Soludo of breaking his pact with the people, especially on security as contained in his governing documents – Anambra Vision 2070—a 50-Year Development Plan, The Soludo Solution and The Transition Committee (Combined) Report, the former President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transcorp Plc, said looking at his performance indices, the Governor has been very tall in rhetoric and very short in execution.
“In some cases, he is the direct cause of the disorder. What the Governor has failed to realize is that when it comes to issues of security, certain truths are better left off the public domain.
“What is required are firm and decisive actions executed outside public glare but which enhance the wellbeing of the people.
“It is becoming crystal clear that there is no Solution by Soludo to the issue of insecurity in Anambra State. It is either he thinks words alone would make insecurity go away or he doesn’t think it deserves enough attention, which is not good enough for Anambra people,” he said.
Urging the Governor to give hope to the people of Anambra in words and deeds, Ozigbo tasked him to earn the trust of the people, by being empathetic, genuine, and humbling himself, to the level of Ndi Anambra.
The Labour Party chieftain charged Soludo to engage the private sector more and better towards fostering a sense of purpose and belonging, reducing the motivation for criminal behavior born out of desperation.
He said, “With this, it is possible to demarcate between Ndi Anambra that turned to crime out of hopelessness and outright criminals weaned into criminality. We will then take the battle to their camps, hideouts, or abode.”
Ozigbo further noted that it is time for the Governor to mobilize the joint efforts of the executing agencies – Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security (DSS), Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante Services.
“Through these agencies, we must pursue and cement the ideals of community policing as it is very dear to my heart as a major plank of solving the security challenges that Anambra State faces.
“This is because for internal security to be strengthened and made to work for Ndi Anambra, participation of the people at community levels is paramount, after all, kidnappings, agitations, lawlessness, and other criminalities occur at these levels
“This ensures that everyone participates in the process of protecting themselves, securing their own lives and the lives of people in their community.
“The current reactive posture must give way to a bold proactive stance that relies on more reliable information and actionable real-time intelligence for crime prevention.
“There should be training and retraining of members of the AVS including other Security Services in this direction, for effective discharge of their duties. The security architecture of Anambra State must be made to work for Ndi Anambra and not exist for rhetoric’s sake.
“Anambra must embrace the imperative of a regional approach to tackling the insecurity in the State.
“It is the failure to work together and adopt a common approach that has emboldened criminal elements to make border communities especially those with Imo State most insecure.
“Criminals being chased end up moving in and out of our State. This is unacceptable. This shouldn’t be.
“Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti is succeeding with this approach and it must work in Anambra,” Ozigbo concluded.
