“One good turn deserves another” is a common adage. But the import of this injunction is uncommon as it challenges us as people of good conscience to reward kindness, not necessarily by the same measure of the benevolence but by a simple “thank you” or a token gesture akin to gratitude. In Igbo cosmology, it is said that: “ekene onye na nke omelu, ike adiya imekwa ozo”.
Okpoko is reputed as the most odorous slum in the Southeast part of the country – neglected and dejected.
From the end of the civil war when Okpoko settlement began to sprout, to 1991 when the new Anambra State was created, the nature of Okpoko slum has confounded all the past military and civilian governors. The planlessness of the urban shanty and the environmental nightmare it precipitated appeared to defy solution.
A few vote-seeking politicians who have shown interest in the Okpoko matter could only provide pockets of the so-called empowerment to their loyalists and paved a few earth roads hosting their henchmen’s properties. Yet, when the annual Ogbaru flood returns it washes off the palliative, thus reverting it to worse than what it was. Nothing would happen again till the next 4 years when another election cycle is due. The entire Okpoko had resigned to fate, believing that their circumstances cannot get better in a sustainable way.
But the story of Okpoko took a new hopeful turn with the arrival of Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, as the Governor of Anambra State. When he was campaigning to be Governor of Anambra State, he promised that to start work in Okpoko. True to his vow, immediately he was sworn in as the Governor of Anambra State on the 17th of March 2022, he visited Okpoko the next day. And few months down the line, he flagged off 9 roads measuring 14.53 kilometres at the cost of N4.96billion. These top quality roads being constructed to last a minimum of 20 years will come with sidewalks and street lights. These are the kinds of infrastructure that Okpoko has never seen since it came into existence. The Governor subsequently commenced work on Atani – Ozubulu road and Umunankwo-Osomalla road, all in Ogbaru with others to be soon commissioned. These roads have been designed to tower above the worst kind of annual flood in Ogbaru.
Ogbaru, including especially Okpoko, has never had it so good. Governor Soludo’s unconditional love for the people in spite of the fact that they didn’t vote for All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the three previous elections still baffles political pundits. But that’s how you know an exceptional political leader. He does what is right for the sake of posterity and the upliftment of humanity.
Soludo’s intervention in Okpoko is borne out of deep appreciation of the immense potential inherent in a regenerated and transformed Okpoko. The value of properties will soar, investments will flow in, jobs will be created and crime will reduce.
Since Soludo has broken convention and stuck out his neck to ensure that Okpoko people experience improved quality of life, how do we say Thank You to him particularly now that he has a candidate in the April 15 Ogbaru Supplementary Elections. Okpoko and Ogbaru in general already have a foretaste of APGA’s transformational capability unlike others whose campaigns still remain as abstract pledges and unfulfilled promises.
So, the choice on Saturday is clear. It is between what you can see and what you cannot see. It’s between fulfilled and impactful promises and empty promises.
The House of Representatives supplementary election where APGA candidate, Comrade Arinzechukwu Awogu, is on the ballot presents an opportunity for Ndi Okpoko and Ogbaru in general to appreciate Governor Soludo, leader of APGA, for his commitment to transform Okpoko into a liveable, prosperous and pleasurable place in Anambra.
Ogbaru, and Okpoko in particular, should do the right thing by voting Arinzechukwu Awogu to represent them at the Federal House of Representatives. APGA has a quintessential track record that any other party is yet to match in Anambra State.
Written by PAUL NWOSU/
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