By Onyekachi Eze
In a view to addressing the pressing challenges facing respective Autonomous Communities in Imo State, as promised by the Uzodinma- led administration, the Oru East LGA is not left out in the scheme of things.
To this end, the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Oru East Local Government Area, Hon. Nze. Nyerere Ogbonna, alongside his Committee Members have begun in earnest.
As at press time, the IMC chairman’s train has hit sixteen Autonomous Communities, out of the twenty Communities that made up Oru East.
However, the visit could be best described as “Community Priority Needs Assessment Intervention Tour’, aimed at obtaining, ascertaining and taking eventries of the needs and expectations of each Community and submit to the Government for necessary actions.
Communities so far visited include;
Ezioha-Amagu, Amagu-Ancient Kingdom,
Ihitte-Akatta, Ezi-Akatta, Ubaha-Akatta,
Ezi-Awo 1, Ezi-Awo 2, Ofekata 1, Umuezeala/Umueme.
Others were; Akuma, Umuduru-Igwemmadu, Amiri-Oru, Mbubu, Amiri-Isu, Ofekata 2, and Ofekata 3.
In Ezioha-Amagu and Amagu Ancient Kingdom, respectively, HRH, Eze Amb. Dr. Anthony Ngoka, and, HRH Eze K.N. Ndujife enumerated some of their pressing needs, ranging on construction of good roads, rehabilitation of their Nkwo-Amagu damaged borehole, electricity supply, good health centres, employment of their unemployed youths, and reconstruction of their schools.
For the people of Ihitte-Akatta, Ezi-Akatta, Ubaha-Akatta Autonomous Communities, their Traditional Rulers; HRH Eze (Prof.) A. A. Alagwu, HRH Eze Okolie, and, HRH Eze C.U. Obi, respectively aligned thus,
“We have epileptic power supply because we do not have good transformers; and we have no good roads, no pipe-borne water, no modern buildings in Afor Akatta market, no formidable security outfits, no perimeter fencing for our primary schools, no good health centres, not even a functional bank, no budget-based 4th tier of government to carter for our Community needs, and we would want the government to gainfully employ our unemployed youths”.
The next Communities that were visited afterwards and duly received by the Traditional Rulers and their cabinet Chiefs include;
HRH Eze T.N. Onyenekwu of Ezi-Awo 2, HRH Eze T. I. Ngimah of Umuezeala/Umueme, HRH Eze C. Amukamara of Ezi-Awo 1, and, Ofekata 1 Autonomous Community in the presence of the Eze-Elect, Nze Ethel Ononobi.
The Ezes and Community Leaders of the listed Communities itematized thus; To get all their local and inter-local Roads constructed; To modernize their various markets; To rehabilitate all their health centres. Other needs include; constant electricity, security of lives and property, sinking of pipe borne water, upgrading of their Primary and Secondary School blocks, employment.
Well-known political Leaders, involving Chief Sir Tony Enoch, Elder Aloysius Nnawugo, Chief Douglas Olemeforo, Chief C. Awazieama, on-behalf of their respective Communities, hailed the Governor for the exercise, expressing optimism it would uplift standard of living.
From there, the people of Akuma, Umuduru-Igwemmadu, Amiri-Oru, Mbubu and Amiri-Isu Autonomous Communities, played host to the Chairman and his team.
Prince Kizito Nwokeji and Chief A. Amasiatu, in their respective speeches commended Uzodinma for his renewed efforts to better the lot of all the communities in the State, assuring him of their continued support.
Ezes for Umuduru-Igwemmadu, HRH Eze Linus Obilom, Eze D.D. Nnabue of Amiri-Oru, Eze Cyril Uzoukwu of Mbubu, and Eze B.N. Igbodekwe of Amiri-Isu listed their needs in a similar way others did.
According to them, putting into place, the following would make their communities better; The Rehabilitation of all their roads, markets, schools, Health-centres provision of pipe-borne water, uninterrupted electricity supply, as well as offering employments to their unemployed youths.
The IMC Chairman of Oru-East LGA, Hon. Nze Nyerere Ogbonna, with his IMC Members, have also visited the people of Ofekata 2 and Ofekata 3 Autonomous Communities.
HRH Eze Benard N. Amanfo of Ofekata 2, and HRH Eze T. Abanukam of Ofekata 3 without mincing words commended the governor for the initiative.
Just like other Communities, they asked for the rehabilitation of all their roads, markets, schools, Health-centres provision of pipe-borne water, uninterrupted electricity supply, as well as offering employments to their unemployed youths.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Project Development, Hon. Chief Okey Udu was around to present an entry Form to each of the Traditional Rulers, to ensure accuracy in data collation.
Responding, the IMC Chairman, Nze Nyerere Ogbonna in all the visit revealed that the tour with the IMC members, to all the Autonomous Communities in Oru-East LGA was a special task handed over to the entire 27 IMC Chairmen of Imo State, by the Governor.
The Chairman opined that, it was in his bid to further ensure the dividends of democracy get to the rural dwellers as enshrined in his avowed manifesto during his 2019 gubernatorial campaigns of Shared Prosperity.
Nze Nyerere Ogbonna maintained that it has become most expedient to place Rural Project Developments to the centre stage, pointing out that his vision for the State prompted the recent exercise.
He therefore called for their continued prayers and support to enable the Government thrive.
Meanwhile, all the IMC members, community Leaders were conscupiously present on their scheduled days, where they reposed confidence on the administration of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
