By Menkiti Francis EZERIBE
Once a quiet and vibrant community in Anambra State, Lilu and its neighboring villages have in recent times endured painful waves of insecurity. Families have fled their homes, traders have shut their shops, and the sound of fear has replaced the rhythm of everyday life. It is understandable that many in Lilu feel forgotten, unheard,and abandoned. But in truth, the story of Lilu is not a story of neglect. Rather,it is a story still being written,one that can change with continuity, patience, and the collective voice of its people.
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, since assuming office in 2022, has taken bold and systematic steps to rebuild Anambra from the ground up. His approach to security and governance has always been one of structure rather than speed,solving problems at their roots, not attheir surface. While it may seem that the government’s presence is distant in some rural areas like Lilu, his administration’s efforts across the state prove that lasting solutions are in motion.
Just a few years ago, parts of Awka, especially the Ifite axis, were almost unlivable due to petty theft, cult violence, and armed robbery. Today, those same streets tell a different story. one of peace, order, and renewed economic activity. Through improved community policing, installation of solar streetlights, stronger vigilante networks, and direct coordination with security agencies, the fear that once clouded Awka has given way to calm and confidence. Similarly, in Orumba South and Nnewi South, areas that once grappled with chaos and disarray, visible transformation now defines the landscape.
These changes didn’t happen overnight; they were the result of focused leadership, clear strategy, and consistency. For practical context, when Soludo assumed office in 2022, Anambra faced one of the most challenging waves of insecurity in its history. Entire local government areas no fewer than seven of them in Anambra State were overrun by violent attacks, killings, and wanton destruction. Communities lived under constant fear ; families fled their ancestral homes, and even public institutions struggled to function. But from the moment Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo took the reins,his administration wasted no time in launching a coordinated and strategic response to reclaim every inch of Anambra soil.
Through intelligence driven operations, community collaboration, and consistent government presence, those once-battered local governments have been restored to peace and stability, calm has returned where chaos once reigned. It is no exaggeration to say that Soludo’s firm stance and methodical security initiatives have rescued Anambra from the brink. That is why it is blasphemous for anyone to say Governor Soludo has done nothing about security. The evidence is everywhere in the quiet nights, the reopened markets, the roads now free for traders and travelers, and the renewed confidence of ordinary citizens. What we are witnessing is not an absence of action, but the unfolding of a deliberate plan; a SOLUTION that works.
Today, only some areas, including parts of Ihiala Local Government Area where Lilu belongs, remaining the final phase of this ongoing security recovery. And even there, the signs of progress are clear. For the first time in years, Ihiala witnessed open political campaigns and gatherings without fear. On October 31, the Honorable Member representing Ihiala Constituency, Hon. Paschal Agbodike ,successfully led a campaign rally across the Mbosi area along with the PG of Mbosi Honorable Azuka , something that would have been almost unthinkable before now. This single event is a testament to the gradual return of peace and order; proof that the government’s reach is extending, steadily and surely, to every corner of the state.
Soludo’s approach to security has never been about empty promises or quick fixes. It is a movement of restoration and renewal, one that rebuilds trust, empowers communities, and enforces lasting peace rather than temporary calm. Ihiala and Lilu are not forgotten; they are simply next in line for the full manifestation of the same *solution* that has worked elsewhere, and that is exactly what Lilu needs now “continuity of leadership.” Starting over with a new administration would mean resetting systems already taking root. But maintaining the same direction under Soludo means deepening what has already begun, bringing the same solutions ” that worked in parts of Anambra South to Lilu and beyond.
Governor Soludo’s administration has launched several programs addressing the causes of insecurity ,unemployment, poverty, and lack of digital literacy . His “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative continues to train and empower young people with employable and entrepreneurial skills, steering them away from crime and despair. His urban renewal agenda doesn’t just beautify towns; it makes them safer, better organized, and more livable. When roads are lit, communities are connected, and youth are engaged, peace naturally returns.
His administration has been able to train over 90,000 youths on different digital skills through the Solution Innovation District.
For the people of Lilu, therefore, the call is not to give up or to lose faith …it is to use their power. The power of the vote is not just a civic duty; it is a community’s voice in shaping its own future. By voting for continuity, Lilu votes for security. By standing with Soludo, the people stand for a tested path that has brought hope elsewhere and can bring it home too. The “solution” that worked in Orumba South and parts of Ihiala can and will reach Lilu, but only if the story continues.
Change does not come from anger or abandonment; it comes from participation. Every ballot cast is a statement of belief; belief that peace will return, that families will rebuild, and that Lilu will once again thrive in the warmth of its people. With the right leadership and consistent support, the silence of insecurity will give way to the sound of life again.
Governor Soludo’s mission has never been about selective development. It is about ensuring that every community, from the heart of Awka to the far edges of Lilu, feels the touch of governance. The path to safety is already being paved and with another term, it can finally reach every doorstep.
Hope for Lilu is not far away; it is already here, and its name is “solution.”
#WHERE-I-STAND
#SOLUTION-IS-D-KEY
#SOLUTION-FOR-CONTINUITY
#ONE-GREAT-TERM-DESERVE-ANOTHER
#ALL-PROGRESSIVE-GRAND-ALLIANCE-[APGA]-IN-NOVEMBER-8-ELECTION-2025
MENKITI EZERIBE
SA PROTOCOL
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