where residents live in squalor and lack, and Soludo, who will be sworn in, today, Thursday, has stated that he would begin work there, immediately after the inauguration of his government.
The answer to this was later found. After parking at an empty space close to the venue, some urchins besieged the journalists, insisting on collecting what they called ‘ground fee’ for parking the vehicle. This is just a mild taste of what Okpoko is made of. It is this kind of story of pitiable living that Soludo hopes to change. The former Central Bank Governor had said he will start work at Okpoko, on 17th March, immediately after his swearing-in, by putting in eight hours in the slum to work towards its change.
“Okpoko, a sprawling slum near Onitsha in Ogbaru Local Government Area will be the starting touch point of The Great Transformation with the planned facility visit of Soludo to the slum to launch its upgrading programme. Onitsha, which sadly wears the toga of the headquarters of air pollution in the world, will in quick succession receive the attention of the incoming Governor.
The above fears were corroborated by some residents who spoke to our correspondent, leaving the fear that as Soludo gears up to begin work in Okpoko, depending on the approach he adopts, the people fear that they may be displaced. The governor-elect who reiterated his resolve to give the State his best, said he will be needing all the resources available to the government to meet the needs of the people.