Many Imolites are eager to receive and embrace Senator Athan Achonu, the Labour Party Governorship Candidate in November 11 elections in Imo State.
However, some individuals are in doubt of his capacity to lead, especially in handling the hydraheaded challenge of insecurity; a serious challenge which the current government seem to have now run out of effective options to address and resolve.
One of the top priorities of Senator Athan Achonu’s plan is Security of lives and property in Imo State. No doubt, security is crucial for the social and economic development of our state and Nigeria at large.
His, is a plan that will not only ensure sustainable peace and security as enshrined in nation’s constitution, it is also a viable and implementable strategy which will serve as catalyst for economic growth in the State.
It is evident that the economy of Imo state is in comatose with government depending predominantly on FAAC and to some extent, the draconian regime of multiple taxation which has been imposed on and extorted from hard working Imolites, with reckless, heartless impunity.
Terrorism, emergence of criminal gangs, kidnapping, robbery, regional agitation groups and other offshoots of poverty, have successfully been domesticated in our existential ecosystem, as competing forces confronting the security architecture in the state. Hunger has equally become a strong weapon, thereby sustaining violence.
Expectedly, the high level of Insecurity in the state has resulted in low diaspora investment inflow, high unemployment and increased inflation. This is very worrisome.
Indeed, for two consecutive years, Imo won the state with most ‘miserable’ citizens in Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Imo State at 74.03% and 78.75% consequetively, tops the ‘Misery Index’ table in 2022 and 2023. The Misery index is arrived at, by adding (for the states), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to their May inflation rate.
According to a Business Day Newspaper report, Imo State did not record any Foreign Direct Investments in 2021 and Q1 2022, out of the total $6.75billion and $1.6 billion respectively, that came into Nigeria.
Also, in 2022 the NBS report indicates that 41% of Imo State’s population live in Multidimensional poverty. Please, refer to NBS National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report which accesses poverty based on the following: education, living standards, health, work and shocks.
These outcomes no doubt, are debilitating effects of Insecurity, underinvestment, poor project initiation and lackluster leadership decisions.
Senator Athan Achonu, the Imo State LP candidate, recognises the huge importance of securing a territory with a population of over 5million. He understands the role security plays in attracting quality Foreign Direct Investments that guarantees employment, and fuller lives.
As an individual, Senator Athan Achonu’s contributions to the fight against insecurity in Imo State and the South East, is enormous and commendable. He has shown considerable knowledge of the problem, as well a clear understanding of the practical solutions as shown in his antecedents.
For years, Senator Achonu (One Arm General), has been fighting insecurity with his ideas, as well as his personal funds.
He has supported the Nigeria Police Force by donating over 10 Vans to NPF at different times. He also bought a land with a building and donated to the police for use in his Local Government Area.
In order to help provide safety for police officers who are killed while on duty, Senator Athan Achonu got approval from the police hierarchy, to repair Police Armoured Personel Carriers (APCs). He got approval to repair 10 APCs and he contracted and paid INNOSON Motors to repair the 10 armoured carriers with personal funds.
He believes that those fighting Insecurity have families, hence they should be safe too. These are verifyable facts which are all in the public space.
Senator Achonu has been in the vanguard of Aku Ruo Ulo initiative – a campaign for Igbos to come home, invest and develop South East. He has invested heavily on this.
He has equally seen the barrier posed by insecurity, hence he constantly advocates for communities to set up Vigilantes (registered according to existing laws, with Police and DSS), for effective community security. He likens the security architecture to that of neighbourhood Sheriffs overseas, especially in the United States.
He has supported local vigilante in his autonomous community – empowers them regularly- with Motorbikes, Uniforms, funding, patrol vans, etc). One of such vans donated to community vigilante, was even stolen and burnt by desperate, unknown persons in front of Ehime Mbano Stadium, sometimes in 2022.
Achonu, being a smart leader, knows that Local Government Autonomy and independence from the cancerous grip of sub-national leaders, will solve and ensure 90% of grassroots independence. For over 15 years he has been singing this song.
He is well known for his constant advocacy for full Local Government Autonomy and his unflinching stance that this will be a strategic plan to restore peace and security and revive local economies, are public knowledge.
He has mobilised community development associations, civil society groups, as well as youth led organisations, to campaign and push for local government autonomy as a solution to violence and criminality.
Just a few days ago, Senator Athan Achonu issued a press release, condemning the Killing of Traditional Rulers in the state (See The Nation Newspapers, July 24th 2023 – “Imo: LP governorship candidate vows to end killing of traditional rulers”). He vowed to restore the traditional institution to it’s pride of place and to end the killings of these custodians of our culture, customs and traditions
Senator Athan Achonu, for over 15 years, has been speaking and promoting Aku Ruo Ulo. He has advocated for local and diaspora investment in the South East as a solution to the scourge of unemployment and entrenched Insecurity in the state.
In line with this, he invested heavily in agriculture, to create employment for the youths in the state and by that singular initiative, reduce insecurity in the state considerably.
As an ‘Ideas Distillery’, Senator Achonu turned a virgin forest with no access road, very steep, dangerous hill, and undulating topography, into a morden agricultural farmland. NUMO FARMS has artificial river with a capacity of 1 million fishes per month; morden hatchery; snailery; green houses; laboratory; a cattle stockade of 5, 000 capacity, etc), now sorrounded by scenic landscape.
As part of host community development and corporate social responsibility, he built and fully tarred 2.3km access road with one bridge, one box culvert and double sided drainages. Another 6.7km road with 2 bridges are underway.
The farm when in full capacity can employ 2,000 persons.
His successful intervention in providing solutions to the plethora of security challenges that confront us, has revealed a man with fresh ideas and leadership excellence that Ndi Imo need now. He is the fearless, courageous, bold and discerning leader Imolites can trust.
It’s easiest to build consensus where their is TRUST.
IKEMBA ATHAN ACHONU, THE ONE ARM GENERAL, IS THE MAN YOU CAN TRUST.
Chibuikem Diala
Director Media & Publicity
Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation