By Okey Maduforo Awka
Anambra state Deputy Governor Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim has dismissed claims that the state government has been chasing away the non Indigenes in the area describing the allegation as untrue.
This is coming as the Association of Non Indigenes In Anambra State ANIAS has so far captured over two million members into its data base.
According to the Deputy Governor Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim during a courtesy visit of the non Indigenes in his office ;
“When we hear incidents of insecurity in the state and people profile the non Indigenes as the culprit some people go to town to say ah! they are trying to chase the non Indigenes out of Anambra state and I say no ! It is not true and that cannot happen”
“The Nigerian law made it clear that if one stays in a place for ten years and above he is deemed to be a citizen of that place because that is where he leaves and work and hid family is there also so you cannot chase him or her out of that place”
“Nobody is chasing the non Indigenes away from Anambra state because their meeting is our meeting and our meeting is their meeting and whatever happens in Anambra state be it good or bad affects everyone including the non Indigenes”
“Those that do not want to be captured by the data process are those criminals and the so called unknown gunmen and they cannot determine our fate and they cannot determine how Anambra state would be and that is why Gov Charles Soludo is particular about the fight against insecurity and not against the indigenes in Anambra state” he said.
Also speaking the National President of Anambra State Association of Town Unions ASATU Bar Titus Akpudo noted that in the past four years the Town Unions have been partnering with the non Indigenes as well as the state government adding that the role of the body has impacted positively on the state.
In his address earlier the President of Association Of Non Indigenes In Anambra state ANIAS Prince Chigozie Nweke explained that ;
“So far we have captured over two million members and still counting and all members have their voters cards because they are all registered at all the Electoral Wards in the state”
“Similarly another essence of having this Association is predicted on the profiling that most crimes committed in Anambra state are blamed on the Non Indigenes hence we have resolved to identify our members and have been sensitizing them through their leaders on the need to shun crimes and criminality in the area”
“We also appreciate the leadership of the Ocha Brigade and that of the Ministry of local government and Town Union Affairs for promising us slots in the recruitment of operatives of the brigade as well as vacancies in the second phase of One Youth Two Skills program of the Soludo administration’ he said.
