…Urge him to spread gesture across state

From Dom Ekpunobi, Onitsha

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When Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State assumed office about two years ago, he vowed to ensure adequate security in the state, as well as uplift Awka to a standard capital city.
Today, he has kept to his words that the people now go about with minimum or no fear of the unknown.
Also the governor is waxing stronger in carrying out other developmental projects inspite  of the present economic recession, which has rendered some of his colleagues in other states incapable of paying their workers’ salaries.
Thus for the people of Anambra, Obiano has so far done well and so deserves their praises.
The latest of the governor’s developmental feats is the provision of street-lights on major streets of the urban areas of Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, which also extended to some rural areas such as Aguleri, Nibo, Enugu-Ukwu, Nwafia communities.
The streetlight project has excited some stakeholders in the state, who felt that Obiano should be applauded for such high calibre work done for the people.
For them, the streetlights would boost the security efforts of the governor while enhancing the living standard of the people.
Some of the stakeholders who spoke to Oriental News included: the Anambra State Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Chris Eluenumo; the Traditional Ruler of Awka, His Royal Majesty, Obi Gibson Nwosu; the Chairman GUO Transport  Ltd, Godwin Ubaka Okeke; and the Igbo Spiritual Leader, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka.
According to the state Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Eluenumo, the streetlights springing up on major streets across the state was about the best thing that has happened in the state.
“Although Chief Willie Obiano has executed many heart-warming projects in the state, the  streetlight is most appreciable because of its security and economic implications. The governor being a widely travelled man knows what is best for the state  and always go for them.
“Streetlight wherever it is found gives confidence to anybody moving around there in the night, especially visitors because they know that their security is assured. Armed robbers and other criminals do not operate in an electricity lit environment.
“Another good advantage of the project is that it enables people carry out business even in the night.Transporters and those who carry out their businesses at the parks are at great advantage when streetlights are on because they will not be in a hurry to close.
“In truth, opportunities created by the availability of streetlight are numerous. It promotes social life, especially for people who go to places like night clubs, cinemas etc, which virtually disappeared due to insecurity.
“My appeal is that the governor is that he should try and sustain the venture and even extend it. People should also join hands to ensure that the lights and their components are not tampered with so that they will serve the purpose for which the governor put them in place.’
Also the traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Nwosu said that he was delighted that the streetlight project was going on in the state, especially in Awka where his kingdom is.
“It is even more interesting that the one on the express road is a special one indeed.
Such could only be found in very advanced countries of the world. I do not think that there is any other place you can find that type in Nigeria. I give special kudos to the Anambra State governor for the special lighting of the flyovers in Awka. Streetlight promotes genuine commercial activities in the night because it gives the traders the opportunities to transact their busineses until late hours of the night.
The fact is that darkness produces evil things. If there is light on the streets, criminal activities are minimized.
“The people of Awka are grateful to the Governor Willie Obiano for the infrastructural development taking place in Awka, and the streetlight project takes a prime position. I wish the project will continue and get to every street in the capital city. I also wish that  the government will power the streetlights with solar energy so that the little energy that comes from the national grid will be utilized for domestic and industrial uses only,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman GUO Transport, Godwin Ubaka Okeke said that every sincere person would appreciate what was good  even when it was his enemy that did it.
“That Governor Willie Obiano is being recognized and given award for his various achievements is not in vain. The streetlights in Anambra State is a landmark achievement and has indeed distinguished him from the other governors who came before him. It is not that those people did not do anything, but he has taken a step further by electrifying our streets, thereby making life even better.
“With electricity now available on major streets of Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, insecurity has been reduced because armed robbers and other criminals cannot operate where electricity power is on. In business, those who do their business around the park and major streets can carry out such businesses in the night by virtue of availability of electric  light and travellers encounter  less risk in the night when the lights are on.
“Chief Obiano has always been a pace-setter and the streetlight project is one of the areas where he has excelled and it has helped a lot in achieving high scale security in Anambra State. I am not a politician, but I am one who likes to credit people with their achievements.
“Although I am not a night crawler, and considering my age and social status I do not go out in the night, those who value night life must be very happy that streets lights have encouraged their movement and that is a credit to the governor. There is no doubt that hotelliers and some other businessmen who operate in the night will be making larger business because people now have opportunity of coming out to patronize them. I hope that the streetlights will not only be sustained, but be expanded because what is good for the goose will also be good for the  gander.
The benefit offered by streetlight should not be left for those in major towns and streets, but should be made available in every nook and cranny of the state.
Waxing philosophical, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka  said: “Anambra is the light of the Nation and the state cannot claim to be the light of the nation without having light in it. Obiano has demonstrated that he wants to lit the state and that will promote security, business, social and night life for the people of the state. Governor Obiano by virtue of the streetlight project is trying to practicalize the slogan of the state – Light of the Nation.”
Ezeonwuka noted that it was a common knowledge that where there is light there is life, pointing out that the governor is the transformer of Igbo nation and should be encouraged to do more.
“My sincere appeal is that he should endeavour to extend the streetlight to areas of the state it has not reached, especially in the urban areas so that those who wish to carry out their business even in the night could do that without any hindrance.
“You can be sure that such projects are part of what makes Obiano an award winning governor and he has indeed won several of such awards. We are happy that night life is gradually returning in Anambra State, especially as security is guaranteed and promoted by the presence of streetlight,” he said.