Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Archbishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, the Archbishop Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, has advised Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, to consider the plights of the masses in setting his policies to run a successful Government.
The Bishop’s appeal came at a time the people are expressing displeasure over the recent changes in payment of taxes instituted by the new administration in the state.
Addressing newsmen at Emmaus House, Awka, the Anambra State capital, the Anglican Prelate urged the Governor to consider the plights of the people especially those at the grassroots who may suffer to meet up with the demands of the policy.
According to him, “Whenever you are setting up policies, find out the impact it will make on the population at the grassroots because they are the ones that feel the impacts of government policies.
“Whatever you are setting up and it is going to bring hardship to the people at the grassroots, that means it is not going to work because the consumer is the king in marketing theory.
“Government works through the grassroots and if the people at the grassroots are happy then, the Government will succeed. But if it is the few people at the corridor of power that expressed happiness without the people at the other side being happy, then the Government has failed.
“It is just like what is happening at the national level. Imagine, with all that is happening in Nigeria still some people come out to tell Buhari and Nigerians that everything is working. It is those around the leader that will determine whether the leader will succeed or not.
“So, I throw it back at the economic Advisers to the Governor to advise him to take the best possible decision.”
The Prelate also condemned the state of roads in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, noting that towns like Agulu, had become more organized than the capital city.
“The roads in Awka are worse than any road in Anambra State. If you compare towns like Agulu with Awka, you find out that Agulu is more organized than Awka.
“We have to be honest with ourselves and ask if Awka in this current condition should really be called a capital.
“There is need for access roads in Awka. The town is not not only accessed through the expressway and the Zik avenue.
“Okpuno that has the biggest population of people in Awka is now a slum. Even behind the government house, the roads there are in a sorry condition.
“Anambra is our state. It is good you develop your place when you become a Governor, but this capital territory must be well developed. There is need to revisit it. Even if there are houses that are blocking certain areas, Government should find ways to correct it.”
The Archbishop who is the elder brother of the current deputy governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, urged Soludo not to toe the part of previous administrations in the state who, he said, failed in providing access roads in the state capital, but to leave a mark by improving the roads in the capital territory for the betterment of the people and the state.
