In spite of the tragedy, terror and mayhem unleashed on Nnewi-South local government area of Anambra state especially the burning of the council headquarters at Ukpor and destruction of properties worth millions of naira there-in by men of the underworld, the transition committee chairman Hon. Ikenna Oluchukwu Aniagboso says the council area will take the lead in rural infrastructural development as well as set the pace for others to follow.
That was his position as he spoke convincingly about his programme of development for the council area during an extensive exclusive interview with our correspondent. Although he regretted that Nnewi-South was currently operating from the council headquarters of Nnewi-North following reconstruction works and replacements at the council secretariat Ukpor, he believes very strongly that Nnewi-South will set the pace for rural development in Anambra state.
Aniagboso said Nnewi-South is a local government with ten communities and seemed to be the worst hit by insecurity. He told our correspondent that the local government secretariat was set on fire by hoodlums on two separate occasions and that several Divisional Police Stations were also destroyed in the area.
He said several vehicles belonging to the police and the Anambra State Vigilante Group were burnt and destroyed. That some members of the vigilantes equally had their houses burnt by criminal elements. The TC chairman also expressed sadness that precious innocent lives were lost in the heat of the mayhem.
However, the Nnewi-South local government chairman informed that the situation has drastically improved and that public safety has returned as people now live normal lives devoid of panic and phobia.
He said, ” By the grace of God, the Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has shown dexterity and commitment in tackling insecurity not just in Nnewi-South but the entire Anambra state. Nnewi-South is relatively calm now and the governor should be commended. ”
According to him, Nnewi-South and other local governments in Anambra-South senatorial zone seemed to be entry and exit points for hoodlums but he was delighted that the governor has mobilised security operatives in all the entry and exit points to Anambra state in order to reclaim the communities from hoodlums.
Aniagboso noted that the situation was so intense such that the hoodlums were running the communities as a merchandise. Although he said the governor extended an olive branch to the hoodlums asking them to cease fire and choose peace but unfortunately they chose war and the governor unleashed war on them, setting Nnewi-South and the entire Anambra-South free from the captivity of the outlaws.
The TC chairman therefore stated that Nnewi-South local government is set to embrace the plans and visions of the state governor, having distilled them into short, medium and long term programmes to ensure that the council area emerged the best local government in terms of education, health, infrastructure, environment, agriculture and a host of other sectors which guarantee sustainable development in all spheres.