By Jude Michael
The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Sir Paul Chukwuma, has promised to prioritise the restoration of law and order across all parts of Anambra State as part of efforts to boost business activities, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which, he says, drive Anambra’s economy.
Sir Chukwuma made this promise last Sunday when he was hosted by the Founder of Mega Abattoir and Suya Spot located at the heart of Enugwu-Ukwu town, Chief Michael Onyeka Obidi. Sir Chukwuma, who said he was highly impressed by what he described as the entrepreneurial resilience of Chief Obidi, noted that it was remarkable that despite the harsh business environment in the state, Mega Abbattoir was thriving.
The visibly elated YPP Governorship Candidate in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, who decried what he described as seemingly unsolvable insecurity challenges in the state, added that when elected as Governor of Anambra State, his administration would create a good security atmosphere necessary to bring back Anambra’s lost night life.
He also assured that ventures like Mega Abattoir would be replicated across many towns and suburbs in Anambra to not only expand the state’s productivity but create more jobs.
Sir Paul Chukwuma equally promised to relieve what he described as the excessive tax burden currently placed on the neck of many MSMEs by the Soludo administration.
‘In Anambra today and it is sad that businesses, especially MSMEs, are being harassed by multiple government agencies to pay all manner of taxes and levies that eventually find their way into the private pockets of the many revenue contractors being used by the Soludo administration to complicate tax collection. This makes running a business in Anambra to be draining.
‘When you factor in the insecurity angle that makes businesses to close on time, you begin to wonder how Anambra intends to become a serious economic giant. It is disheartening that today in Anambra, by 7pm almost every city or town in Anambra is deserted, as people rush to get home. Movements between communities become risky. How do economic activities thrive in such an environment?
‘Instead of focusing on the things that matter to the majority of Ndi Anambra, the present state government decided to spend unnamed billions to build swimming pools and “janglovers” in Awka. Is it not someone who has fed his family that will have time and money to go and swim in Soludo’s pools or swing in his janglovers?’ Chukwuma queried.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the CEO of Mega Abattoir and Suya Spot, who also owns Choice Kitchens, expressed his personal gratitude to the YPP governorship candidate, describing him as one of his greatest pillars in business. Chief Obidi, a strong supporter of YPP, said that Sir Chukwuma understood what it meant to run a business and the challenges entrepreneurs in Anambra faced, especially due to the failure of the state government to create breathing space for businesses.
The deputy governorship candidate of YPP, Chief Uzu Okagbue, in his remarks, decried what he termed the growing hardship in Anambra with disposable income in the pockets of households shrinking by the day due to declining productivity. He promised that with a YPP government in Anambra State led by Sir Chukwuma as governor and himself as deputy governor, Anambra State would rise again.
The YPP Guber candidate, Sir Chukwuma, and his running mate, Chief Okagbue, alongside members of the YPP campaign team, were treated to a rousing and electric reception at the Mega Abbattoir and Suya Spot in Enugwu-Ukwu.
