Chinedum Elekwachi
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has warned local authorities to refrain from collecting fees from petty traders in the state.
Soludo who gave the warning while addressing a passionate crowd in a rally at Ekwulọbịa vowed to arrest defaulters.
The warning followed his visit to Eke market in Awgbu where he observed that petty traders with less than N100,000 capital still pay levies.
This is against the directive by the governor. “Don’t collect from them anymore. We will arrest anybody that goes ahead to disregard this.
We’re committed to protecting the livelihoods of petty traders,” he stressed.
Soludo expressed gratitude for the community’s support for his candidacy, emphasizing the importance of the community’s involvement in local governance.
He highlighted the significance of Ekwulọbịa, stating that while Jim Nwobodo had designated Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulọbịa as cities.
The governor regretted that the latter appeared to have been overlooked in the development plans.
“To become a real city, Ekwulọbịa requires serious planning,” he stated, proposing the establishment of a dedicated committee on town planning to facilitate this growth.
In addition to municipal reforms, the Governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to social welfare, with a mention of the free education, free antenatal care, and delivery services for the underprivileged.
He took a moment to commend the Ekwulọbịa community for its resilience and support in the face of challenges.
Remarkable feats
Earlier, Chief Joseph Okafor expressed his appreciation, stating, “Mr. Governor, you have achieved remarkable feats in just three years, not only in Aguata but across Anambra as well. We are truly thankful for your efforts.”
Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area, Dr. Chibueze Offorbike, stated, “We have transformed from a rural to a semi-urban and now an urban local government area, courtesy of Governor Soludo.
“Thank you for making us proud. We assure you of our commitment from the wards to the polling units.”
A cheque of N80million was presented to the Governor, alongside his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim to support his campaign.
