Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Noble Chukwunonso Igwe, the lawmaker representing Ogbaru 1 state constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly has said that his constituency is suffering government neglect and abandonment.
He said social amenities such as roads, schools, hospitals, good housing and a host of others were completely lacking in the area thereby making life cumbersome as well as escalating criminalities in his constituency.
Igwe who stated the deplorable condition of Ogbaru one state constituency to our correspondent in Awka yesterday, maintained that it was time government beamed its searchlight on Ogbaru one and addressed infrastructural deficits in the area as well as bestow his constituents a new lease of life.
The lawmaker said, “Our people do not feel anything like government presence in my area. For instance, if you go to Okpoko community, you will cry for them. The whole place is in a very sordid condition. We do not have any single good road in Okpoko entirely. The absence of good roads in Okpoko has led to the increase in crime because the security personnel do not have access to the nooks and crannies; they can’t move about to apprehend criminals because of bad roads.
Also, we have a very big challenge when it comes to flooding. The only drainage system which is the Sacamori in Okpoko is filled up with sand and that drainage is supposed to collect water from some parts of Awada, Fegge and the entire Okpoko down to Idemili river and finally to the river Niger but for now, the Sacamori is filled up making flood to destroy people’s property and lives.
By this time last year, we lost about five lives to the menace of flood as a result of poor drainage system in Okpoko. So why we are here is to speak the minds of our people to make the government to come to our aid. We have a working governor; maybe he has not been told about the conditions of the people of Okpoko. We are suffering and we are beckoning on him to please do at least two or three kilometers road for us. We will appreciate it.”
Also, according to the lawmaker, “The only good road we used to enjoy before was Obodo-Ukwu road but come now, if you pass through Obodo-Ukwu road it will take you about one hour to cover just less than two kilometers of road. The entire place is in a total mess.
We are begging the working governor of Anambra state Dr. Willie Obiano to come and assist the people of Okpoko. As a matter of urgent need to come and do a total reconstruction of Obodo-Ukwu road and Ede road and also help us dredge the Sacamori drainage. Once that is done, our people will be happy and they will continue to support him and the government of Anambra state.”
Igwe who also noted that Ogbaru one state constituency consists of East-Niger, Nkpikpa and Central Okpoko noted that the entire constituency was bedeviled with bad roads.
The legislator who also doubles as a teacher disclosed further that all the government schools in Ogbaru one state constituency were completely non-functional. He said that Okpoko Boys Secondary School, Okpoko Girls Secondary School and some others were all in very bad conditions such that students struggled through flood waters to find their way home whenever it rained.
Another problematic issue he raised was insecurity in Okpoko community. He said there should be more watertight security to reduce crime rate in Okpoko pointing out that Ogbaru one constituency has been in the dark for too long and that it was time government remembered the constituency and include it in its development plan.