….. Canvasses Made-in-Nigeria goods
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
With the South East zone groaning under a heavy economic hardship, no thanks to the weekly Sit-at-home order imposed by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafrans (IPOB), the new Anambra state Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles
Soludo has said all will be well sooner than expected.
He has also called on Nigerians to embrace Made-in-Nigeria goods, pointing out that the country has no need to import goods such as wearing apparels, automobiles and other consumer items.
Governor Soludo who spoke on Arise Television breakfast programme The Morning Show on Tuesday revealed that he has initiated a dialogue with the leadership of IPOB with the intention of persuading them to see reason in ending the weekly Sit-at-home order imposed on the people.
According to him: “We have embarked on wholesome review of security challenges in Anambra state and in the South East geo-political zone. I am glad to say that discussions with IPOB are on-going. I believe we are going to crack it”.
Speaking further on the discussions with IPOB, he said: “We trying to make them to understand it is the very poor that suffers the effects of their action hence the need to end it in the interest of our people”.
Said he: “Sit-at-home is not good for our people because the artisans and the traders especially “ndi oso afia”, those who make daily living buy helping buyers to find the particular goods they are looking for to suffer most anytime the markets are shut because they will not be able to make money to feed”.
The Governor assured that his administration is determined to restore Law and Order not only in Anambra but across the South East geo-political zone.
Meanwhile, Soludo has admonished Nigerians to embrace locally made goods and services, pointing out that this is how developed countries reached the heights they have attained.
He said his Made-in-Anambra mantra which have seen him patronising Innosons Automobiles as Official car; wearing of Akwete handwoven clothes and Ogbunike Made Shoes are to drive home his belief in Nigeria and Nigerian products.
Said he: “We have to self-reliant. This is what happens in the civilized climes. You cannot see American Presidents using vehicles made in Japan or Germany. This is what obtains in the developed world” .
“I have decided to use Made-in-Nigera car, in fact, Made-in-Nigera Anambra car (Innosons Motors). I am also wearing a pair of half shoes made here in Ogbunike, Anambra. I ‘m wearing a hand-woven clothes, Akwete clothes. Wë want to encourage them to grow. I encourage Nigerians to patronize our own”.
Asked what he met on ground as regards the state financial status, Soludo said there is an Audited Accounts of Anambra state which has been certified and published since December 31, 2021.
Said he: “There is no complaint. There is an Audited Accounts of Anambra up to December 31, 2021 which has been certified and published. Except days between January 1 to March 17, 2022 when I took over. It’s the best practice. That’s the baseline and we take-off from there”.
On his immediate predecessor Chief Willie Obiano, he said: “I have nothing but nice words for ex-Governor Obiano. He is a good man by all standards. He is a honourable man.
It is rare in Nigeria today to find a person who is like Obiano whose word is his bond”.
“He loves Nigeria, he loves his people. He is not that kind of person who will leave office and still want to control things. He is not that kind of person who want to continue to dictate or call the shots from outside the seat of power”.
“I am eternally grateful to him
(Chief Obiano) for keeping to his words. I can remember talking with him on my ambition and after several months he still kept his promise unlike other Nigerians who will say after all the promise has been overtaken by events. I am indeed grateful to him”, Governor Soludo concluded.
