Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate in the November 8 Anambra poll, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of receiving N3 billion monthly as security vote without corresponding improvement in security across the state.
Chukwuma, who spoke on Arise TV, said it was worrisome that despite the huge allocation, killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes continued unchecked.
He blamed the situation on what he described as either lack of strategy or absence of political will by the state government.
The YPP candidate promised that, if elected, he would prioritise security and return to what he called “the basics” in dealing with insecurity.
He said, “Anambra State Government collects in the neighbourhood of N3 billion monthly as security vote, yet insecurity continues unabated in our dear state.
“As a government, we will channel security votes directly into security-related expenditures.”
Chukwuma listed his security blueprint to include a 24-hour emergency helpline, CCTV cameras linked to a central surveillance system, modernised police stations, well-equipped patrol vehicles, service centres across local governments, drones, trackers, and improved welfare for security personnel.
“Community vigilantes would be trained for neighbourhood watch duties but placed under the supervision of police stations in their areas. These measures are not only achievable but also affordable if funds are properly utilised.
“When you do the maths, you will realise these are totally doable. What Anambra needs is a leader who understands what must be done and, more importantly, has the will to do it. I am that man,” he added.
He further accused Soludo of lacking either the knowledge or resolve to tackle insecurity, stressing that prudent use of security votes and true local government autonomy were crucial.
But the governor’s aide, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, dismissed the allegation, describing the N3bn figure as a fabrication.
“Paul Chukwuma is an attention seeker. He relies on the mention of Soludo to gain relevance, but that still does not stop the fact that he is very irrelevant in the scheme of the November 8 governorship election.
“The alleged N3bn monthly security votes is a figment of his imagination. Not to my knowledge of such,” Opara added.
Opara insisted that Soludo’s administration had significantly supported security agencies, strengthened local vigilantes, and provided logistics for joint security operations across the state. Soludo himself has maintained that while challenges remain, peace has returned to many communities once under siege.
Chukwuma later took his campaign to Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government, where he promised to address poor road connectivity, end network difficulties and support farmers.
“This is a major challenge. We shall confine this experience to history. We shall make it easy for all communities in Awka North to become easily accessible from one point to another,” he said.
He accused the Soludo administration of neglecting Awka North despite receiving billions in federal allocations, vowing to give farmers the needed support to expand production and export their produce.
“Our government has an eye on Awka North, and we shall fix this local government,” he added.