By: Ismaeel Aleem
Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, has revealed that the deplorable condition of Okpoko, an urban settlement in the Ogbaru area of the state, was one of the major motivations behind his decision to contest the 2022 governorship election.
Speaking on Friday during the Ogbaru constituency campaign rally held in the settlement, Soludo recounted how the community’s poor state had deeply troubled him for over a decade, prompting his resolve to bring lasting change to the area.
“Okpoko is one of the major reasons why I contested to be governor of Anambra. From 2010 until 2022, I could not sleep well seeing the way Okpoko was the biggest urban slum in the Southeast, if not Nigeria, with over half a million people. No water, no roads, no streetlights, nothing. I told you when I was campaigning that help was on the way,” Soludo declared.
The governor highlighted his administration’s developmental strides in the area, noting that his commitment to Okpoko was one of his earliest actions after assuming office.
“I promised Ndi Anambra that either on the day of my swearing-in or the day after, I would resume work at Okpoko. I was sworn in on the 17th, and on the 18th, I came here. Today, over 20 kilometres of roads have been completed, streetlights installed, pipe-borne water restored, and a hospital built for the first time in Okpoko,” he said.
Soludo also pointed out that the government’s free education policy is now benefiting children in the community, a move he described as part of his broader vision for inclusive development and poverty alleviation.
Expressing his affection for the people, Soludo added humorously, “Children are enjoying free education, that’s why we came. I love you more. I will come and take one room here.”
Okpoko, often described as one of the largest slums in Nigeria, has long faced challenges of infrastructural decay, overcrowding, and poor sanitation. Soludo’s interventions, observers say, mark a significant step toward transforming the area and improving the living conditions of its residents.
