Ka Anambra Chakee Challenge: #10m awaits first to complete street painting

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Governor of Anambra State, Prof.Charles Soludo has vowed to offer #10 million to the first street in Onitsha to complete their repainting from February 1st to March 10 this year.

The Governor made this vow through the Commissioner for environment, Mr Felix Odimegwu during an interactive session with Onitsha landlords at Onitsha South Local Government Area Secretariat on 5th February.

According to him the runners up will receive #5 million while the third position will smile home with #3 million

‘We are here for the follow up of the last visit here where our governor sent his deputy to come and interact with the Fegge landlords on degeneration and facelift of Onitsha.

“We want to do this thing in three folds, repainting, where the governor brought out a challenge “Ka Anambra Chakee” which prompted him to set a cash gift to any street that comes together, discuss and embark on this initiative, paint from street end to street end.

“Each street that paints her houses and finish them before 10th March will come first, and receives #10 million while the second and third will get #5 million and #3 million respectively.

“It is the wish of the governor to embark on this initiative. He said that he would be here on Friday for you to see him and hear also that he is the one that sent us here. This is an agenda that is not hard to do and also it is for our health benefit.

“Another one is cleaning of drainages, Onitsha was last rated as the dirtiest place in west Africa but this government since it came, is deliberate to change onitsha from the present narrative and place it on the right direction it should be.

“Since solid roads constructions are going on, it will be an eyesore that the environments, buildings within these roads are dilapidated, we all know that paints help in protecting houses, so we are here to appreciate the governor.

” Fegge is well planned, when we painted all our houses, plant trees, it will make your properties valuable, appreciate naturally and also conducive for foreign investors and businesses.

“WHO has also made it known that 60 per cent of the causes of our ailments are from the environments. Clean environment with good air, plus good food, you have given yourself primary health thereby scaring sicknesses away from you,” he stated.

“The Local Government Chairman fixed this meeting today to ginger Onitsha landlords and as you are doing it, Awka landlords are doing theirs, likewise Awada and the chairman is trying to see that Onitsha landlords come first. If this 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions come to Onitsha South, it will be remarkable.

“Also is tree planting, if we can also plant step trees, masquerade tree, map out small space for this, each street should choose their choice and each building plants two step trees each in front of their buildings and in straight line too.

“Each street will pick their tree choice and colour, which must be the same for the whole building in that street but the colour must be a particular colour but might be of different shades, he further explained.

The Transition committee Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Hon. Emeka Orji in his contribution said that to support the governor in his initiative and to encourage Onitsha landlords that he will add #1million, #500,000 and #300,000 to the first, second and third streets, adding ” We are trying to bring back the former face of Onitsha and we are almost there.

“We are beginning this week because there is no more time, “Infact any building that first starts the painting will get #I00,000, let’s make Onitsha proud, even the governor.

“I want to also remind us that I will start demolition very soon, so let everybody hear it and immediately demolish, the scraps will collect them immediately. We don’t want fence around any building in Onitsha South, let it be removed before we start our work,” he pleaded.

Mr Ndubuisi Umezurike- Vice chairman Landlord Association, on assuring the commissioner that the initiative is a welcome development, disclosed that he led a team on waste evacuation at portharcourt road on Sunday and on the process he stood at the front of first bank by Niger street and on looking forward, surprisingly he sighted Upper Iweka at a stretch and I was encouraged.

“Infact, we have been planning to come and thank the governor for this, please let us do this, we are born and brought up of this place, we know everything. we are doing it for ourselves, this is our place,” he pleaded.

One of the stakeholders, Hon.Sylvester Emeka Okafor (CIWO Paints) stressed on the need to embrace the initiative and the need to use a very good paint with quality which will not wash away but retains the quality for the achievement and sustainability of the governors agenda.

Another Stakeholder, Hon.Azumma Patrick advised on the need to inform these new building landlords by announcing the colour code of each street so that those that are about to paint their buildings will queue in immediately.

Also present at the event were the State President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Obi Chukwuemekalum Udodeme, President General PG Onitsha South Rex Wilson Anyaoha, Personal Assistant to the Council Chairman, Barr. Stanley Okafor, Secretary, Onitsha South council Area, Barr Paul Onuachara, Chairman Ochanja Market, Chief Bonaventure Muo and other personalities.

Pic 1 shows the LG chairman when speaking
Pic 11 shows the trees on the floor