Governor Soludo’s homeland security law brought sanity to Anambra- Nwankwo, Building Material market boss, gets tenure extension

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

The President of Anambra State Building Material International Market, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area, Chief Jude Nwankwo, has said that the State Homeland Security Law midwifed by Governor Chukwuma Soludo has brought sanity to the State.
Speaking with journalists in his office,Chief Nwankwo who is the patron of Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), painted a gloomy picture of the insecurity that pervaded the State before the enactment of the law by the State House of Assembly.
He said: “There was too much insecurity in the State but the Governor brought the Homeland security law to make sure he dealt with those who are causing those insecurity”.
Jude Nwankwo popularly called “Jollity” by his admirers said the people’s lifestyle of get rich quick syndrome was the major cause of the insecurity in the State.
“Suddenly we had emergency native doctors who claim (Ezenwanyi and Eze Nwoke). They prepared what they called Okeite and Awele and used them to destroy young people. Nobody wants to suffer again. They believed money was plugged from tree” he said.
Continuing he lamented: “Many of the youth became robbers, kidnappers, killing people at will even as they were killed sometimes. They made charms for bullets, not to enter their bodies and cutlass not cut their bodies and for them to disappear. But the fact is that all those things are false because security operatives sometimes caught them and killed them but the charms could not protect them”
But Nwankwo expressed delight that since the introduction of the law: ” It became a total cleansing. We are waiting for those arrested to disappear, but they have not. They are gnashing their teeth and facing the law. Everywhere is calm now, others are on the run since their masters have been arrested”.
The market leader said people can now drive their good cars on Anambra roads. The roads are good and safe. We have good roads now in Okpoko, Fegge, Odoakpu, Idemili, Awka, the capital city, Ekwulobia, Nnewi and other places in addition to security”
He expressed pleasure that even in election period the State is still peaceful unlike in the past, stressing that this was caused by the Governor’s good governance.
“Many people might not understand that something is happening but something is actually happening. We are commending and supporting him because the Governor is trying his best” said Nwankwo.
He said the entire market and himself want Soludo return for a second term so that this Homeland Security Law would not be dislodged.
Said Nwankwo: ” We want the law to stay long, so that we can change the mentality of our people especially the youth who have been saying: Education is a scam, church is a scam. Some people should not come and annul the law”.
He said if not allowed to stay long the few young people who get money through dubious means would corrupt many good ones because when others see them cruising in SUV Jeeps, they would be tempted to join them.
Given the performance of Nwankwo,the entire traders in the Building Materials including the patrons, trustees, members of the Executives have written to the State Government to extend his tenure due to expire this June to now June 2026.
Nwankwo said he accepted it with reluctance because he felt he has done his bid but expressed happiness on the confidence reposed on him by the State Government and the entire traders
“The day I accepted to stay extra one year,it was like a carnival in the mart Everybody was jubilant.But it was grace. I appreciated it. Government even wanted me to stay for two years but I told them this one year is just because of the traders, to complete the projects we have at hand” said the President.
He expressed optimism that a worthy successor would emerge because unlike Nigerian election, he would ensure that people’s mandate prevails during the election.
” What I need to do is to ensure that there is transparency during the election. Whoever wins becomes our leader. So that we can sustain the good governance we have established in the market” Nwankwo assured .