The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has Congratulated the executiveY governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano who will on Tuesday 17 March 2015 marks his one year in office even as he described the governor's 365 days stay as Anambra's helmsman as remarkable and eventful.
Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this in an exclusive interview with Fides, at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka thanked God for the gift of Governor Obiano and also for instilling in him the zeal to work for the common good of the people as well as for making Anambra a safe haven for local and foreign investors.
The Catholic prelate, while congratulating the governor, praised him for introducing a new bus mass transit scheme in Anambra noting that scheme if well managed would alleviate the suffering of commuters which he said oftentimes get themselves stucked in one transportation problems or the other.
He further said with scheme the hitherto hiked bus fare would be reduced drastically noting that the scheme would be beneficial to the citizenry. Bishop Ezeokafor also extolled the governor for his achievement in infrastructure especially the construction of three flyovers in Awka which he said when completed would give Awka the much needed State capital look.
'So far, so good, Gov. Obiano, to me, has done very well. We should commend him for the greater things he has achieved barely one year in office. Sometimes, I ask myself how is he getting the money he is using to prosecute these projects especially now that the oil is nothing to write home about.
In terms of development he is there. Even reconstruction and construction of new projects he is also there. You can see Awka is now coming up. I believe that with the completion of these three flyovers Awka will wear a capital look . We are urging him to continue to work for the people. His 4 Points agenda is really working. I will join them in saying that Willie is actually working,' Bishop Ezeokafor enthused.
Speaking on the issue of incessant increment in house rent ,the bishop advised him to beam his searchlight on housing issue noting that if such gesture in transportation should be extended in building of new houses the issue of reckless increase rate in house rent and other accommodation problems would be a thing of the past.
On the governor's entourage, the man of God, urged the governor to reduce the number of persons in his entourage to save cost adding that it was good for executive governor of a State to move about with so many people especially security personnel but reasoned that with the meagre federal allocation of the State the governor should cut down cost by reducing the number of persons travelling with him on daily basis.
Meanwhile, bishop Ezeokafor has advised the Anambra State government to relocate the popular Eke-Awka market to more suitable site where the teeming traders would stand a chance of owing a stall noting that the present position of the market was no longer enough to accommodate the sellers c and the buyers. He said if the market would be taken to somewhere in Agu- Awka, it would definitely ease congestion problems.
'Current position of Eke-Awka market is to me no longer suitable. It should be relocated,' he said.