By Juliana Nwachukwu
Rev. Fr. Evaristus Nwagbara on September 17, has called on Ndi Anambra and residents to support the moving train; the government of the day come November 8 Gubernatorial election.
Fr. Nwagbara who is the Chaplain of Laity Council Fegge Zone under the umbrella of Onitsha Laity Council made the call during the meeting of the Laity Council Fegge Zone at Queen of Peace Catholic Church Fegge, Onitsha.
He emphasized on the developmental strides of Mr Governor, the good road networks, solar light and others, noting that human being cannot be pleased and there is no leader that can please everybody, saying that the infrastructural development in the state is as a result of the judicious use of tax monies by Ndi Anambra.
Fr Nwagbara reiterated that all the governor’s plans are for the good of the state, pointing out that the taxes from the masses are for the development of the state and advised them to support the governor for continuity.
He pleaded to all present to extend the messages to their respective parishes, pointing out that Governor Soludo is our Governor. He also thanked the Mayor of the local government, noting that he never refuses to pick calls especially when the calls come from the Rev.Frs, that he listens to them, adding that his joy is that the Mayor was born and bred in Fegge who knows all the nooks and crannies of the area.
Separately speaking, the Patron who is also the Chairman Emeritus Laity Council Fegge Zone, Chief Vincent Okeke and Chief Akunwanne Ibejiaku said that they as Laity Council always decide on whatever to do.
The duo called the attention of the Mayor on the forms being shared to traders in the market by the market authorities, adding that all the traders were mandated to fill the forms and that would amount to shop closure if not filled.
They suggested that things like these supposed not to be happening at this electioneering period because people can use it against the candidate, “I am not against the payments of revenues because it is used for the development of the state but not this period.
Reacting, the Mayor said that he has stopped the collection of revenues in the area apart from stallage, he frowned on how traders could not pay N19,600 a year for the government’s owned shops in their care asking if the shop belongs to an individual, wouldn’t they pay for the shops.
He assured them that he will sort it out with the market authority because it is not approved by him.
Explaining the issue of validation, the Mayor explained that validation is to the traders advantage because some shops occupants are unaware that the shops they occupy have been sold out severally. He assured them of meeting with the governor as they demanded.
“Validation is verifying the authenticity of a particular owner of a shop and issuance of certificate to the said owner, if when certified, the owner will be more authentic.”
He reiterated that Governor Chukwuma Soludo stopped all revenues for six months when he took over as the governor, so that he can focus on what next to do. He also made it clear that sanitation payment cannot be stopped in the area because Onitsha South always comes first every month for the past one year on sanitation.
The Legal Adviser of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Barr. Stanley Okafor, corroborating the Mayor’s view on validation said that anything concerning shop is very delicate.
He pointed out that the traders should be careful on certain payments they make, noting that this particular complaint on revalidation form is strange to the Mayor and his SA on revenue because the council has stopped such payment for over one month.
He pointed out that it is the work of the saboteurs, the enemies within, who want to sabotage the progress of the local government and the state at large.
Present at the meeting were the president of the Laity Council, Fegge Zone, Hon.bSabastine Aneke, Secretary, Dr. Mrs Melvina Ezeiruaku, all chairmen and delegates from the parishes under Fegge Zone and the Mayors entourage.
Juliana is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
