TOWN HALL MEETING: President-generals Present Major Community Challenges To Ikwuano Mayor*We might not achieve all at once… Nwaka *Says Otti determined to run People-Oriented govt
By Charity Uwakwe
The Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Mayor Osinachi Nwaka, yesterday, held a town hall meeting with President-generals (PG’s) of the various communities of the four clans of the Council.
The essence of the meeting was to enable the Transition Chairman ascertain the prominent challenges as faced by the people in their various communities, and tackle them squarely.
This is in his burning zeal to drive home the grassroots developmental vision of the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti OFR.
The Mayor and President of New Era Foundation (NEF) who expressed great joy to hear from the horses’ mouths , stressed that the meeting would enable the Labour Party (LP) administration to discover major areas that posed great challenges to the people.
Speaking during the town hall meeting which was held at Ikwuano Local Government Council, yesterday, Wednesday, Mayor Nwaka described the People-Oriented Leadership Skills of the Governor as ‘second to none’.
Mayor expressed intense joy to have the people at the meeting, noting that the people oriented Governor is fighting took and nail particularly through the transition chairmen to ensure that dividends of democracy is taken to the doorsteps of the poor masses.
“My heart is full of joy to invite you to this meeting. If you observe carefully, you’ll discover that our Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti is determined to run a people’s oriented government.
This is our first phase, there will be a second phase and there will be a third phase”, he added.
He, however, regretted that past administrations ruled with little or no consideration for the basic needs of the people, hence the prolonged relegation of the masses by the government but, but, assured that Otti led administration was poised to change the narrative.
Meanwhile, he admitted that the administration was not ignorant of the various basic amenities which are glaringly absent in the communities, hence the need for the meeting, as he pledged that the former would stop at nothing in extending notable developments across all communities.
He, therefore, assured that the government would embark on execution of projects in the communities with focus on their areas of preferences as outlined by each President-general.
In his remarks, Hon. Boniface Isienyi, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency reminded that the ruling Party had, during the campaign, pledged to have intermittent meetings with the electorates.
He disclosed that Ikwuano’s projects were captured across all sectors such as education, health, etc.
The spirited Legislator who Nwaka as the best Mayor Ikwuano ever had, commended the latter for restoring water in the Council within a fraction of two days of assumption of office, while urging the PG’s to endeavour to be honest in their affairs with the government.
He applauded the government of Dr. Alex Otti OFR for the ongoing rehabilitation of farm roads across the various local governments.
“Pray for the Governor, pray for me, pray for our Mayor, pray for Obi Aguocha and Senator so that we can represent you efficiently. If we revive every abandoned project in Ikwuano, there will be a facelift.
Corroborating, the Deputy Mayor, Hon. Chief Charles Ugboaja described the Mayor as a young vibrant, intelligent accountant who is willing to lead the people to the promised land.
Hon. Ugboaja tanked God for bringing back Nwaka, whom he described further as a reputable bank manager, to the people of Ikwuano to make their lots better.
Presenting their challenges to the Mayor and some stakeholders of both the Council and Party, some of the PG’s blamed the absence of electricity in their communities on hoodlums, whom they allege were involved in the vandalisation of transformers provided by government and philanthropists, thus resulting in total blackout over the years.
The major challenges as outlined by the PG’s ranged from dilapidated transformers, battered boreholes, bad access roads, decaying school buildings, high rates of child/adult mortality prompted by absence of functional health centres, among others.
Comrd. Ifeanyi Ndubuwa, of Isiala Oboro, Isiama autonomous community outlined their community challenges ranging from dilapidated ring roads connecting to other communities such as Okwe, etc, heath centre, school blocks.
Apostle. Emmanuel Omerede, the Vice PG of Ekebedi Oboro, lamented the dilapidated condition of the only existing primary school building, community link roads, and unstable electricity supply, pointing out that the use of prepaid meters has resulted in excessive cost.
“The cost of prepaid meters is high and as such we cannot enjoy electricity supply just like other neighbouring communities.”
Similarly, Engr. James Nnadozie Uchegbuo, PG of Ahuwa Oboro, appealed that the government assist the community “in filing up the roads thus making it motorable; we need a health Centre. A community that houses over 57000 members does not even have a single health centre.
Asked how his people have
“It has caused a high modality rate of both young and adults; deaths that would have been avoided take place on regular due to the absence of an existing health centre. Our case is pathetic and needs urgent attention. Also rehabilitation of Ahuwa primary school blocks which was built in 1982 which has existed since my days in primary school and right now, I’m approaching 60years.
Lamenting the ordeals as suffered by his community, the President-General said:
“The place has posed a serious challenge hence it has become unconducive for learning, hence our children are forced to learn under trees while others go to neighbouring communities.
We’re in urgent of a new transformer and the completion of transmission high tension line from Ndoro to our community, a contract that was awarded under Senator T. A. Orji’s administration.
“The only borehole that came to us was the one given to us by Sen. Nwannunu, a former Senator that represented Abia Central over decades ago”.
Also, Elder Comrd. Ebubeogu Uchenna, PG of Umugo Oloko, while pleading for the purchase and installation of a new transformer in his community, wailed that the major challenge of the community, among others was the absence of electricity which according to him, has existed for decades.
Hear him: “In our community, we have been suffering from lack of electricity for over five years due to the vandalisation of the previous transformer by some unidentified hoodlums and this has kept the community in utter darkness for a long time.
‘So, we’re appealing to this present government to come to our aid and restore our light. What we are asking for is a new transformer and replacement of those cables removed by hoodlums.
“We’re also calling on the government to look into the security of the community by mobilising vigilante to enable them execute their responsibilities.
“The vigilante in our community is in desperate need of mobilization to enable them do their job so that the lives and property of the community can be secured especially as the various infrastructure comes in through this government.
“We have also dilapidated classroom blocks that need urgent attention although the electricity is the most pressing need.
He, however, commended the Mayor for deeming it fit to have a one-to-one interaction with the PG’s, describing the gesture as apt and plausible.
“I also want to use this opportunity to thank our Mayor for his concern towards communities facing different challenges; for finding time to gather all the PG’s of different communities in Ikwuano to air their view on the challenges being faced by their people.”
In their separate speeches, the PG’s of Ariam-Usaka PG bemoaned the absence of electricity in the community, saying: “We need a transformer and also we need security, because as we speak, the people of Nkalu want to capture us.
“Moreso, the popular Ikwuano secondary has no block now.”
Ariam-Alala PG, Onwubiko Uba has this to say: “Outsiders penetrate Ikwuano secondary school to do funny things with our students. We need you to come to our rescue. We have an existing borehole but it’s not functional.
In his words:
“Dilapidated structure in Ikwuano Secondary school and insecurity; dilapidated structure and only one room existing in the school; students seat and take their exams with rain beating them; insecurity in Ikwuano secondary school is a major problem;
There’s an existing borehole but it’s not functioning.
Chief Ikechukwu Owebe, the Labour Party chairman, Ikwuano, urged the Mayor to help in restoring discipline in the educational sector of the local government.
He decried the negligent attitude of primary school teachers in Ikwuano, whom he disclosed demonstrated gross carelessness towards their chosen career, in connivance with the headmistress of their schools.
“Some of them don’t go to school especially on market days and regrettably, they collude with the headmistress. And this has to stop. I’m urging our dear Mayor to institute discipline in our primary schools.”
Attendance at the meeting included: the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency, Hon. Boniface Isienyi; Deputy Mayor, Chief Charles Ugboaja; Arch. Ifeanyi, HOD Of Works
Chief Mbagwu; Head of Service, HOS, Ikwuano Council, Dr. Charles Uzondu Anyadiegwu, the President general of Ikwuano Local Government;
Others were Pastor Mike Ifeanyi, the General Overseer of Loyal Soldiers of Christ Church and National Coordinator of New Era Foundation; Deacon Kennedy Nwaka; Mrs. Chisom Opara from Oloko proper, Deputy Chairman, Labour Party, Ikwuano, etc.
