The senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah has blamed the state government for the decision of the renowned musician, Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, to organize the funeral ceremony of his late father in Enugu, accusing Governor Chukwuma Soludo of hindering his security plans for his senatorial zone.
Flavour, who hails from Umunze in Orumba South local government area of Anambra South had said that he held the ceremony in Enugu because his home town has become a no -go area in terms of security.
In a statement on his behalf by his Media Adviser, Chuks Kamen, Senator Ubah said: “I would have secured Orumba and the entire Anambra South senatorial district if the state government hadn’t stopped my security initiative, despite its success in the Nnewi pilot programme.
“Launched in 2023, the security initiative aimed to provide comprehensive security coverage for the entire Anambra South senatorial district.
“Following its success in Nnewi, plans were underway to expand the programme to Orumba North and South, Aguata, Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo. However, the state government’s interference halted the initiative and introduced politics into security matters.
“The state government’s actions have left my constituents vulnerable to security threats, particularly in areas currently under siege by non-state actors, which would have been liberated by now.
“However, I will continue to advocate for the security and well-being of my people, despite the obstacles.”
Ubah observed that Nnewi has remained the safest town in Anambra State because of the security measures he introduced in the area, adding that his desire is to replicate it in all the communities in the senatorial zone.
He added: “It is on record that several businesses, fun spots, and hotels in Nnewi made brisk sales during the period under review while the Easter holidays lasted. This is largely due to the laudable security architecture deployed, using a combination of artificial intelligence, local intelligence, walkie-talkies, and 4G High Definition CCTV security networking systems.
“Unfortunately, our efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home in Nnewi markets were met with resistance from the state government, which promptly sacked the chairman of the market union and replaced him with another who was instructed to disregard our efforts aimed at reopening the markets on Mondays.
“Let me, therefore, use this medium to apologize to Chinedu Okoli (Mr. Flavour) for missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the life and time of his father in his hometown, while also rueing the revenue and tourism potentials that such an event would have brought to Umunze, Orumba South, and Anambra South senatorial district”.
