Area of Imo State have been participating actively in the development
of the state.
They solidly supported former governors Achike Udenwa and Ikedi
Ohakim's administrations. They also played active roles in the
emergence of Governor Rochas Okorocha and other elected candidates
from the area, and have not ceased to show them their support.
Yet the communities say they have nothing to show for their past
support in terms of infrastructural development and appointment into
key positions in the state.
They insist they don't have any accessible roads and that they are
ravaged by flood and erosion.
Residents complain that the Ukwu Orji-Ifakala-Nwaorieubi Road, the
only state road running through the area, is in a deplorable state.
The road, contracted to MCC during the administration of Governor
Ikedi Ohakim, was abandoned. And nothing whatsoever has been done on
it.
They alleged that the construction firm handling the project had a
disagreement with the state government which allegedly reviewed the
contract sum downwards, a development that did not go well with the
contractor. As a result, the project was abandoned, pending when
enough funds would be made available by the state government.
MCC later took the Imo State Government to court over the issue, and
the case is still pending.
However, as the case lingers, residents and other road users are
paying the big price as erosion and flood are forcing some of them out
of their homes.
The residents are equally unhappy that the abandoned
Ogbaku-Nkalu-Ifakala Road that links Umuagwu, Umunakpaku, Oboro,
Amazu, Umungwo, Umutaku to Owere Nkalu villages as well as Nwaorieubi
is causing the residents enormous pain. They complain that erosion and
flood have taken over their homes and farmlands.
Their crops were damaged, just as some villages had been cut off from
the rest of their relatives.
Narrating the ordeal of the communities, the traditional ruler of
Ifakala, Eze Michael Akanonu Eromaka Ekeruo (Ezeriohamma II),
expressed regret over the hardship residents of the area have been
facing.
The royal father, who spoke to Daily Sun in his palace at Umuchinewe
village, stated that the Ukwuorji-Ifakala Road that connects
Nwaorieubi-Mbieri-Atta-Inyishi-Ikeduru-Ahiazu Mbaise, if
rehabilitated, would be more useful to road users.
He said it would reduce the pressure on the Onitsha-Owerri Road and
other roads in the state.
He also said the road would be of economic benefit to the residents,
noting that traders would have good access to various markets in the
region.
"Aside that, if the road is rehabilitated, it would attract
investments to Mbaitoli; the existing businesses here would do better.
With that, there would be more job opportunities for the unemployed.
"It is unfortunate that most villages here are no longer accessible;
business activities have also been crippled and many are being
threatened to vacate their homes due to flood. This has been on for a
long time and we have been complaining, yet, the government has
refused to do anything about it."
He appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha to mobilise contractors
handling all the abandoned road projects at Ifakala and Nkalu
communities to complete them.
"We do not expect what we are getting from Governor Okorocha. We tried
hard to ensure his victory and he knows it. But now, he is paying us
back with denial of infrastructure and total abandonment.
"During Ifakala Cultural Day Celebration 2015, Deputy Governor, Eze
Madumere, an Mbaitoli son, came here and promised us that the state
government would complete the Ukwuorji – Ifakala Road.
Shortly after he left, they started reconstructing the road from
Nwaorieubi, thereby giving us hope that all would be well. But
immediately after the 2015 election, they abandoned the project.
"Our community is closer to Owerri. But because of bad roads and lack
of infrastructure, our people who are supposed to be commuting to work
in Owerri from home can't do that. I know that if such people were
encouraged to live at home, they would concentrate and contribute to
community development.
"We are not asking for much from the government; we are only asking it
to reconstruct our roads and leave us to struggle for survival on our
own."
Also, the Chairman of Umutaku Umungwo Progressive Union, Mr.
Christopher Dike, lamented the state of roads in the area and called
on the state government to see the residents as part of the state by
allowing them to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
Dike pointed out that with the way things were going in the affected
communities, it appeared that they did not have any sense of
belonging. He therefore called on Governor Okorocha not to play
politics with the welfare of those who stood under the sun to vote him
into power.
"It is obvious that our people played active role in the emergence of
Okorocha as governor. There is no reason we should be abandoned just
like that. Therefore, he should intervene before the floods consume
us."
Responding, the Chief Press Secretary to the Imo State Government, Mr.
Sam Onwuemeodo, explained that no government would embark on a project
with the intention of not completing it.
He informed that the state government was presently doing everything
possible to ensure that all abandoned projects in the state,
especially roads, were completed immediately after the rainy season.
"Governor Okorocha is bent on ensuring that every community in the
state is happy during and after his administration. But our people
should exercise patience and support him to achieve his heart's
desires," he informed.
"They should appreciate what he has already done and is still doing,"
he enjoined.
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