“There was a damning report about Nigerian Governors splashing billions on new Government Houses.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
On Tuesday, the governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, personally announced and unveiled what could be regarded as the return of Abakaliki Street in Awka, the Anambra State capital. “I understand, it was formerly Abakaliki Street, then, for some reason, they changed it to Club Road, and I try to find out why. Why the change? I was told it’s because there are clubs here. That’s not a reason to change the name,” Governor Soludo said as he unveiled the new signpost bearing boldly “Abakaliki Street.”
This outing yesterday by the governor has raised some very pertinent concerns about what is going on, that the governor had such time to preoccupy himself with what is purely and exclusively the job of the Awka South local government chairman, while his responsibilities appear abandoned. The governor’s action raises concerns on many levels.
Abakaliki Street in Awka was changed to Club Road during the administration of Governor Willie Obiano by the former local government chairman of Awka South, Hon. Leo Nwuba. The broad street, which is Awka’s red-light district, stretching from Regina, Unizik Junction, and Kwata Junction on the express, was renamed Club Road, while the adjoining street towards the exit to Kwata Junction was renamed Abakaliki Street. It is therefore somewhat disturbing that the governor of Anambra State would have the luxury of time to concern himself with the duties of a local government chairman and personally undertake this function. But even more, the governor’s action was an unnecessary confrontation with Obinao’s government, which he vouched for when he said, “If not broken, why mend it?” Needless to say, he was a key player in that government because he chaired the State’s 50-year vision, as well as the Golden Tulip Agulu Lake Hotel. At such close range to the call of power in the last administration, Governor Soludo’s attempt to blame the administration is indicative of an internal conflict. This particular action, clothed in Igbo nationalism of sorts by Soludo, clearly appears like a deliberate move to undermine his predecessor or at least the former government, which he was a part of, as parochial and discriminatory. The far-reaching implication is that the governor might have underrated the logical connotation that his outing casts a shadow of doubt on his reputation.
Even more, are there no more serious events for the governor to have attended that he would spend half of his evening in a frivolous street renaming ceremony? On that same Tuesday, the only son of Anambra State APGA Woman Leader, Mrs. Esther Oyekesi, was killed by gunmen after he was kidnapped in their home on Sunday evening, in Awka. A few days before, there was a damning report of how Nigerian Governors are splashing billions on new Government Houses. Recently, Governor Soludo splashed undisclosed billions of Naira in a New Anambra State Government House, in a State where housing is fast becoming a problem for the vast majority of the populace. A senior civil servant in Awka, the Anambra State capital, will be unable to afford a modest accommodation of two bedrooms in Awka through honest earnings from his job. These things are not weighty enough to attract the Governor’s visit and action.
This latest move, restoring Abakaliki Street by Governor Soludo, failed in its entirety to demonstrate any cogent relevance to the urgent governance needs of the people and residents of Anambra State. There is also no real justification for the governor to take over the duties of a supposedly elected local government chairman of Awka South, who is empowered by law to name and rename streets in the Awka South local government area.
The governor’s action could only be explained in terms of what political mileage he believes he could gain by so doing. Recently, Governor Soludo, in a rally, said he would leave no stone unturned in his bid for a second term. While this latest action might be geared towards winning goodwill among Ebonyi voters in Anambra State, the challenge is that most indigenes of Ebonyi in Anambra State are burdened by the unbearable tax of Soludo’s government. Many of them who are petty business owners have their businesses destroyed earlier in January 2024, by the government along that same Abakaliki Street and all surrounding and adjoining streets in Awka. To date, there is no word from the government, and they have not been compensated. So, if indeed, as it appears, this move by Soludo was politically inspired, its expected benefits remain doubtful because the people still live by the scars of their destroyed and burnt wares by officials of the Anambra State Government under Governor Soludo’s watch.
♦ Ebuka Onyekwelu, journalist and trained political scientist, is a writer and columnist with the West African Pilot News
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