The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra

  • Obiano and changing face of Anambra

    SIR: The end may have come for the dismal look cities of Awka and Onitsha. Both cities suffered near total neglect in the past, and were almost given up for abandoned. Neither the administrative status of Awka nor the commercial strength of Onitsha could earn them gubernatorial attention. Past governments seemed obsessed with other aspects of governance to bother with their rustic state. An out of humour critic of those administrations once called Awka a bucolic town, mismanaged by a line of do-nothing governors who wished to change its looks by standing still.

    The decrepit infrastructure was not helped by the fractious nature of her politics. Needless to retell the dreary story here, but suffice it to say that it conspired with the failed infrastructure to rob the state a measure of respect in the comity of other states. It is important to mention that the lacuna in infrastructural development was not because the state could not stump up bills in transforming itself, but more for the lack of vision and political will by past governments to do so. The poor state of infrastructure inevitably encumbered development in other areas. In time, the condition conduced to criminal activities rather than stave it. The burgeoning commercial activities of Onitsha very easily exposed her to tidal surges in criminality. Awka, the state capital, held no better promise as it lacked the enablers for transformation and stifled growth in social interaction. Both repelled rather than attracted visitors. Investors whose activities should have given impetus to genuine development, nibbled at the thought of coming to the state. Those who did refused to take up residence in it. Perhaps only fly-by-night contractors and wheeler-dealer business men could brave the odds. To that extent, even a particular class of her citizens prefers to work in Awka from the comfort of either Enugu or Asaba.

    The Obiano government has, since debouching on the political stage, kept its nose to the grindstone to change the old order. Today Awka, the state capital, billows in dust of reconstruction. The decrepit infrastructure is now caving in to the menacing strides of the contractor’s bulldozers. By the time the dust settles, three flyovers at Arroma, Kwatta, and Amawbia bypass would stand firm to mark Awka distinctly out. This is a precursor to building an entirely new capital city in the ancient smithy town. The huge constructions (the flyovers), though a prerogative of the federal government, when completed, will achieve two things. First, it will decongest the town and allow for free flow of traffic that is fast forming a tailback at these junctions. Secondly, it will enliven Awka and make it attractive for residents. No longer will the state capital be passed unnoticed as was earlier the case. Already a body (Awka Capital Development Authority) has been constituted and charged with drawing up a befitting capital for the state. It was also instructed to be as eclectic as possible in harnessing ideas in order to give the state one of the best. Nothing could be more compensatory, given the wasted years.

    It may not be presumptuous to say that before four years of this administration Awka, and indeed the state, will be greatly transformed.

     

    • Ejike Anyaduba

    Abatete, Anambra State

  • Anglican Church to resist relocation in Anambra

    The dust raised in Anambra State over the demolished Ebenezer Anglican Church at Oyolu-Oze in Nkwelle-Ezunaka has not settled, as the church has vowed to resist government’s plan to relocate it.

    The bishops yesterday insisted that the demolished church should be rebuilt by the government, adding that the church would seek justice.

    Speaking through the Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, whose diocese is the mother of all the dioceses in the Southeast, the clerics said the issue of relocating the church should be discountenanced.

    He spoke at a special service marking the Fresh Manna Conference of the Diocese on the Niger, held at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha.

    Rev. Nwokolo said the Anglican bishops shared understanding and unity of purpose in the pursuit of the church cause.

    He said nobody should intimidate the Anglican community, stressing that the perpetrators of the dastardly act should wait for God’s judgment.

     According to him, “the Diocese on the Niger will defend the cause of Anglicanism in Anambra State.”

  • Philanthropist lifts Anambra community

    Philanthropist lifts Anambra community

    One man has enlivened a community in Anambra State. Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of the state has come alive, thanks to the philanthropy of Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo.

    What did he do? Ezeemo built and donated a church to the town. The gesture lifted the spirits of the residents.

    That is the story of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, otherwise known as Zion City in Umuchu.

    It started as a kindergarten, with little children taught there. In time, the community worshippers pitched the church and someone found another location for the children’s school.

    Still, the church looked too small and uncomfortable for the woshippers. Attempts were made from several quarters to provide a better temple. It did not quite work out.

    Then came Ezeemo who announced to the community that he would build them a befitting temple if God provided the means. His prayer has since been answered and the man who made the vow has since paid it.

    The Anglican Primate, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh is scheduled to open it on January 2 before its hand-over to the community.

    The dedication service will be conducted by Most Rev. Christian Efobi, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Aguata Diocese.

    Some of the pioneer members of the church are Theophilus Ezekwo, Jeremiah Onuizugbe, Chief Gab Ezekwo, Ven C.A. Mbonu, Richard Okpalajiaku, Christopher Uzoamaka, Ernest Ajelo, Joseph Okoli, Samuel Ezenwa, Japhet Orjiakor, Jacob Utta, David Umeasiegbu, Elder Godwin Ezeemo among others.

    They nurtured and maintained the school and helped to organise occasional services in the vicinity.

    The inspiration came from Mr. Philip Ezekwo in 1991 who donated a piece of land close to his compound in Umuojogwo where St. Peter’s Church (Zion city) stands today.

    The late Mr James Ezeabasili also donated another parcel of land to St. Peter’s zone for a kindergarten school.

    However, to everybody’s delight, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo asked the members to pray that the Almighty God would grant him and his family the grace to erect a temple for Him.

    Now, the  man has fulfilled his pledge, and the community is grateful not just to him but also to several other kind-hearted people who donated cash and other resources for the church project.

     

  • PDP Senatorial ticket: ‘Anambra Central requires fresh ideas’

    PDP Senatorial ticket: ‘Anambra Central requires fresh ideas’

    As the campaigns for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial ticket in Anambra Central District coasts home ahead this weekend’s National Assembly congress, several factors may have coalesced in favour of Dr. Obiora Okonkwo. More than any other senatorial zone, observers say Anambra Central is likely to be the most interesting zone. The zone comprises of seven local government areas (LGAs), namely, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Idemili South, Idemili North, Awka North and Awka South.

    Taking cognizance of the confusion that trailed the State Assembly congress of the party last weekend and the ongoing crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), The Nation gathered that concerned elders and leaders of the PDP have come together to canvass for a more generally accepted candidate, if the party hopes to contest favourably in the Anambra Central Senatorial District, which is currently occupied by All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Senator Chris Ngige. The ruling APGA has resolved to field Chief Victor Umeh for the Senate seat.

    Though dismissed by supporters of other aspirants like Hon. Uche Ekwunife and Senator Annie Okonkwo as a new comer, Obiora Okonkwo, who is the leader and chairman, Board of Trustees, Nzuko Imeobi of Idemili North and South Councils, appear to have, more than the other aspirants, convinced the youths in the PDP and majority of the party leaders that he not only represents the change that the people are agitating for in the party and that unlike most of the other aspirants in the party, he has less baggage and will therefore stand a better chance against whoever the other parties will field.

    An entrepreneur and the political /economic adviser to the ArchBishop of Onitsha, insiders in Anambra power game, including some of his political opponents, admit that he is not entirely new. As a top politician puts it off record, “We all know that Obiora has for years played big, but from behind-the-scene. It remains to be seen how he will cope in a real contest involving him.”

    Confronted with the contention that his chances may be affected by the fact that he is contesting against some experienced politicians who dismiss him as lacking experience in politics, he told The Nation: “To start with, you cannot win a project of this nature if you worry about those who, because of the recurrence of their presence at every election, appear to be favourites. There is something about freshness. We cannot ignore the idea behind a new way of thinking; the enthusiasm of the new kid in the block, if I may use that phrase. We need a new energy source, a new face, a change in the way we have been doing things, a shift in gear, which can come only from a collective desire to look elsewhere for movement. Experience counts, but what is the benefit of experience if all it does is to keep us all stirring the same old pot of stew.

    “This is the difference we are bringing into the race. There are people who keep boasting of how long they have been around. If that is so important, what have they done? There are others who have done so much and ought to move to other challenges. I am saying; let others dance on the stage. My strength is in my dance steps; my chances are hinged on the number of persons that will key into the dexterity we promise to show on the stage. Here, I am talking about fresh ideas, perspectives, motivation, and an unyielding desire to give to the people, my people, a dose of fresh air.”

    The state is currently experiencing some interesting developments. For instance,last weekend’s PDP State Assembly congress and the delegates’ congress held earlier left little to be desired. At the State Assembly congress, for example, delegates’ lists were manufactured by the various factions. There are three factions fighting for the PDP ticket in Anambra State. There is the so-called team from Abuja, which is from the party secretariat. This group seemingly worked with no party structure on ground because the court before the congress had ruled that the tenure of the state working committee had expired. There is also the dissolution of the so-called caretaker committee that showed up in Anambra at the night of the delegates’ congress and according to some aggrieved stakeholders never showed up again.

    So, in the midst of the confusion, each of the three factions simply produced their lists. This being the case, it seems right to predict that having manufactured delegates’ lists, and since, during the State House of Assembly congress last Saturday, names were just written down and votes apportioned to them, the situation is not likely to be different during this weekend’s National Assembly congress.

    As would be expected, PDP leaders and some other stakeholders are currently making last minutes plans to save the situation and to ensure that only acceptable candidates that can win the general elections for the party would emerge.

  • FRSC, Anambra tackle road crashes

    FRSC, Anambra tackle road crashes

    The sensitisation campaign took the form of a carnival but the stern faces of men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) conveyed the seriousness of the exercise.

    They gathered at the popular Aroma Square in Awka in collaboration with the Anambra State government to tell the people of the state that traffic offenders will no longer go unpunished.

    Anambra State Sector Commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi pledged to eliminate the gridlock at Bridge head in the commercial city of Onitsha every festive period.

    But to get it right, Ajayi said that all stakeholders including the drivers, security agencies and the corps members to raise the awareness in road safety.

    The theme of the programme was entitled, “road safety is a shared responsibility, it depends on you”.

    Speaking with the Nation after the event, the FRSC Commander for Benin zone comprising Anambra, Edo and Delta states, Mr. Charles Akpabio, said there is need for strict adherence to safety regulations by motorists.

    He said that more than 50 percent of road crashes in the country were due to violations of speed limit.

    Akpabio said that everybody must get involved in the business of road safety as there was nobody who does not use the roads as part of his journey.

    “Every motorist like any other human being has some element of insanity in him, a good driver is one who drives with the mindset that other road users are equally mad”.

    He warned that the officers of the agency in the zone would be strict with the implementation of all safety rules and regulations, especially as the yuletide draws close.

    “Lack of attention to simple regulations and most especially, speed violations alone cause more than 50 percent of crashes on our roads, we are going to deploy radar guns, tranquilizers in our patrol  exercises to ensure that we reduce crashes at least 25 percent this period”

    For Ajayi, the commendation should go to Anambra state government for its assistance to the FRSC in the provision of logistics for their operations and the training of drivers in its employ.

    He said, “Anambra government has always provided the enabling environment for the command, we will continue to make effective use of such opportunities to achieve effective delivery.

    Governor Willie Obiano praised the FRSC command in the state for the safety level recorded so far in the state, but pledged continued partnership with the agency.

    He was represented by the state Commissioner for Transport, Chuma Mbonu, a lawyer at the event.

    He said, the state administration was paying huge attention to road infrastructure in the state as to ease traffic within the state.

    “Part of this effort is the construction of three flyovers in the Awka metropolis, this administration is very concerned about ensuring that roads in Anambra state are safe for all users” Obiano said.

    Some of the drivers, Okwudili Nwagu, Innocent Okezie, Anthony Okafor who spoke with the Nation said they would adhere to the rules and regulations of the agency, especially during the yuletide period.

    And to show the seriousness of the state government, Obiano has already banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in all the motor parks in the state.

     

  • A voice for Anambra women

    A voice for Anambra women

    Various organisations have been busy in Anambra State. What about? Helping to give women a voice and, ultimately, power. Traditional, economic and social factors have tended to keep women, especially those in rural areas, out of the mainstream. They cook, clean and give their husbands children. Hardly do they make any substantial financial contributions, and are often looking up to their spouses for almost anything. These organisations have been busy trying to teach and encourage the women to break out of their cocoons and have a go at the things men seem to have cornered for centuries such as politics and governance.

    A group known as Hope Givers Initiative (HOGI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is giving hope in Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state. Another group, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) is also working with them. Together they organised a two-day training and sensitisation campaign in the area, urging rural women to join the electoral process.

    The coordinator of the programme and Executive Director of HOGI, Mrs. Onyeka Udegbunam told The Nation that the organisation also planned another event for men. Voice to the People or V2P was also involved in the efforts.

    One of the officers of JDPC, Cynthia Arinze, told The Nation that HOGI was selected for the awareness campaign because the group studied its profile and was convinced about their credibility. Arinze, who supervised the exercise, said HOGI has proved it has the capacity to mobilise and sensitise rural women in the context of their campaign.

    Mrs. Udegbunam said their organisation would urge men to encourage their wives and daughters to contest electoral positions.

    Again, she said it would equally centre on the need to nominate women into key positions in their communities including the cabinets of traditional rulers.

    The women also marched through the community, holding aloft their voter cards indicating their readiness to participate in the electoral process.

    Udegbunam said, “Women are the bulk of the population of Nigeria and studies have shown that women are more articulate in the act of decision making. If we have them participate in different groups and politics either in families, communities, etc, it will lead to better decisions for the community and also take the country away from poverty.”

    “If you empower one woman, you have empowered the entire family; women are the ones who know the needs of the family, and if you involve them during decision-making process, the decision at the end will be better”

    “Nigeria’s culture is such that men sit back in the parlour after work and they are served, so they do not know what some of the basic necessities are”

    “But if the women are part of the decision making, they make contributions that will ensure availability of these scarce necessities”

    “What we are doing is that, we selected women especially their leaders from all the villages and communities in Dunukofia local government area to train them on this so that when they get back, they can impact same to on other women” she said

    However, she praised the awareness of the women, adding that she was even surprised that most of them already knew some issues like electioneering and even opted to play drama of the processes of election in Nigeria.

    Another group known as Development in Practice (DIP), has also added their voice to the battle cry, calling on stakeholders and political parties to accommodate more women. The group made the call at the Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital at an event organised by DIP, a partner of V2P. The event was declared open by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs. Ojobo Atuluku.

    Atuluku urged the participants to make use of opportunities available and pass the advocacy messages to the public to enable more women participate in the political process.

    Furthermore, she called on governments at all levels to address the low capacity of poor and marginalised citizens especially, the rural adolescents and women in the society.

    The lawyer noted that the aim of the programme was to achieve improved social, economic and political well being and better quality services across Anambra state.

    Atuluku said, “The progress ratio is to address the urgent need to meet the high level of marginalisation and poverty which persists in Nigeria due to poor governance and ineffective services”.

    “The sustainable improvements can be achieved by both governments and community’s capacity to act by addressing factors that drive ongoing state governments’ accountability and responsiveness”.

     

  • Erosion agony in Anambra

    Erosion agony in Anambra

    The pain is not just that their soil is breaking up and giving way. Or that the residents are losing property. The torment of Ekwusigo Local Government Area in Anambra State is that nobody has come to their aid. Now, erosion is claiming lives, reports NWANOSIKE ONU

    It is not a pretty pastime, yet every resident counts their losses. Their houses collapse into the depths of red earth. So do  farmlands. Many buildings could follow suit. Now they are counting their human losses, too.

    Communities in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State epitomise the horrors of much of the Southeast, but in this council, the people say they have a reason to feel doubly hurt. Why? No one is listening to them even though they started crying out well over a decade ago.

    Two brothers of the Igwemadu family in Urumabiam community in Ozubulu have died of a heart attack, the latest victims, the people said, of their horrible present and an uncertain future.

    Their appeals spanning over 10  years to the federal and state governments have done nothing to address their pain.

    The people recall that only the Peter Obi administration made an attempt to look their way but even then, it was in the twilight of his second term: too little, too late.

    The House of Assembly member representing the people, Hon Pauly Onyeka has been in tears over what his people are going through.

    Onyeka said his people believe that Governor Willie Obiano will one day visit the suffering people and begin palliative work on the sites since they know that the situation is beyond the state government.

    One of the elders in Ihembosi community, 74-year-old Ichie Ezekwem Ezeana, told The Nation that the community alone has about 14 erosion sites, and that  the residents have been living in fear.

    When The Nation visited the area, the sites were horrible to behold. The agony of the people is immense.

    The old man, in tears, said, “I cannot say that our government is a listening one, otherwise it would have noticed the devastation in these areas”

    “We do not want to lose more lives before they come to help us. To tell you the truth, what we are doing in Ekwusigo is suffering and smiling.”

    “Our major concern is every time election comes, all of them including the governor will come and promise heaven and earth, but after voting them in, they will abandon those that voted them to die slowly; it is unfortunate”.

    Also, the building belonging to 76 year old Pa Onyejiaka Anazodo is at the verge of being swept away by the same menace and the septuagenarian is in his knees begging Obiano and other governments for help.

    The fence of the building is already gone. Should the house cave in, the man and his family have nowhere to go.

    Furthermore, The Nation was told that the traditional ruler of the area, Igwe Dr. Daniel Udoji has made appeals and representatives to the government, all to no avail.

    Chukwulobe Ifeanyi said the erosion problem in the area began in 1996 and then escalated because of the activities of the construction firm, Consolidated Construction Company (CCC) when it began reconstructing Onitsha- Owerri  Road, a federal way.

    He said, “the construction company failed to direct the erosion to Ekulo River, so all the water from Ichi, Ifite, Oraifite were all channelled to this place”

    “And if the thing is allowed to continue, by next rainy season, this area will be swallowed and many lives will be lost, while uncountable numbers of buildings will equally go.”

    It was discovered that the erosion problem has cut off some communities from others, two of them being Awo and Ifite.

    A student of Saint Paul University Ufondu Emenike told The Nation that Awo Road linking Ifite was passable up till 2012 until the rains came and swept off the place.

    The erosion menace has equally consumed the house of one Gabriel Asuzu. The site of the erosion is believed to be the longest in West Africa, measuring about four kilometers.

    It is also said that the building belonging to one Ikechukwu Asuzu is on the verge of being swallowed up by the erosion.

    Speaking with The Nation, one of the rural women, Mrs. Catherine Mbonu said the problem began about 15 years ago and has attracted no form of help from anybody or government.

    Following the rapid surge of the erosion, one of the residents of Ozubulu community, Anaeto Echezona said that many people in the area have started what he called movement of Jah people (Exodus) to other communities.

    “We are almost dead in these areas, we need somebody to rescue us from this problem of erosion; the people of the different communities do not feel comfortable any more in their own land.”

    However, The Nation discovered that some of the erosion sites were man-made, caused by land excavation especially at Egbema Ozubulu which had gone five feet deep, while others are caused by natural disasters.

    Chief Goddy Ulasi, the Vice president General of Ozubulu Development Union (ODU), told The Nation that the Urumabiam erosion site had been there for the past 20 years.

    He claims that some of the people have relocated to other areas where they would be safe, while the government at any level allowed people to be consumed.

    “This erosion has cut off brothers, sisters, relations and neighbours from their people, this village is no more, we have suffered in this place, we can no longer communicate with our people”

    The lawmaker, while lamenting in tears, told The Nation that it is unfortunate that villages and communities that used to live in harmony had been separated by erosion, yet the governments are still adamant.

    “Before now, our former Governor, Mr. Peter Obi sent a delegation for palliative measure before he left office and I know that our Governor now, Chief Willie Obiano (Akpokuedike) is an environment friendly Governor and will not allow his subjects to perish”.

    “We cannot continue in this manner nobody knows what the future holds for these people, every community in this my constituency in Ekwusigo has at least 10 erosion sites, therefore, we need help and urgent attention”

    “What we are doing is to bring them to the notice of the state, Federal Government, International Donor agencies, before now, Anambra State had been known as erosion ravaged place from Oko to Nanka to Agulu but today, it is Ekwusigo, we are half dead”

    “This place should be declared erosion disaster area, all the erosions in other areas combined cannot equate those of Ekwusigo, these communities need help” Onyeka lamented.

  • A healthcare boost in Anambra

    A healthcare boost in Anambra

    How do you discourage  people from travelling abroad to treat almost every ailment, and save money? It is by equipping the hospitals at home, says the Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo Foundation.

    The foundation demonstrated this by donating some high-value items to the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital (ANSUTH). The gesture thrilled staff of the hospital.

    The equipment, according to Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Akabuike, will stop what he described as medical tourism through which millions of naira is lost.

    Some of the donated equipment included four units of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, fowler beds, plain beds, attending beds, emergency recovery trolleys, obstetric labour tables, obstetric labour examination tables, bedside lockers and over-bed tables.

    Others were wheelchair folders, hydraulic operating tables in wooden boxes, crash carts, IV stands, monitor trolleys, instrument trolleys and dressing trolleys, all in varying numbers amounting to 58 units.

    The cash donated was not mentioned but The Nation gathered that the equipment given out was worth over N200 million.

    Akabuike said the administration of Governor Willie Obiano is committed to boosting medical infrastructure in the state teaching hospital.

    This, according to him, is a means of ending what he called capital flight through overseas travels for medical attention.

    He said the Obiano administration is focused on attracting rich individuals from other states to Anambra for medical care rather going abroad.

    Furthermore, he said the state is encouraging rich individuals and corporate organizations to donate medical equipment for the upgrade of the hospital, adding that Obiano’s dream of making the state attractive will be realised.

    Again, Akabuike said that in countries like Nigeria, donor agencies are very rarely regarded, adding that rich individuals who should help tend to invest more in politics than helping the poor.

    “Here today, we have a man who knows the importance of donating to charity; he has always done so and we appreciate him”

    “This institution has a lot of potentials and the management team here has been managing it well, even with the meager resources available”.

    “Government is committed to giving Anambra a world-class health facility that can meet the health needs of the people and even stop medical tourism”.

    “We call on other rich individuals to make contributions as government cannot do everything for us, but with the help of some individuals, these things will be achievable”

    The former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, who chairs the hospital board, thanked the foundation for the donation.

    The Ohaneze boss who had been in Medical practice for 56 years  said his years  in the field, the equipment donated to the hospital by the foundation were of highest grade and obtainable in world class institutions.

    Also, while speaking with the Nation, the Chairman of the foundation, Prof. O.O. Mbonu, said the donation was borne out of the objective of the foundation to assist  in provision of quality and affordable healthcare to the needy through various programmes.

    Though, he refused to mention the price of the equipment, Mbonu said the foundation hopes that the equipment would improve healthcare in the hospital.

    The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Lawrence Ikeakor, said the equipment will help the state in its drive to obtain one of the goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which he said is the reduction of maternal mortality.

    He said, “The equipment will help us function better and also bring out the professionals in us”

    “This equipment will help us reduce maternal mortality and attain development goal faster”

    “Ours is an institution that has potential, by next year (2015), we are graduating our first set of medical doctors and all we can assure the foundation is that we will put the equipment to optimal use” Ikeakor said.

  • Lagos, Anambra dominate gymnastics event

    Lagos and Anambra have dominated the gymnastics event at the ongoing school sports festival in Otukpo, Benue as the competitions  ended on Tuesday.

     Anambra came second on the medals table with five gold, nine silver and eleven bronze medals behind winners Lagos with 16 gold, nine silver and four bronze medals.

    Other states that won medals in gymnastics as obtained from the NSS secretariat were, Cross River with five gold, four silver and six bronze, Niger won one gold, one silver and no brone to come fourth while hosts Benue got no medal.

    John Oyewuwo, head of the technical committee  (gymnastics) congratulated Lagos and Anambra  states for coming out tops in the event, he said while Lagos was a strong force in the sport, Anambra had improved tremendously.

    Oyewuwo said Anambra should encourage gymnastics as there were lots of potentials to be developed there, adding that the state should acquire more equipment and expose their athletes to more competitions and training.

    Benson Udeh, coach of the Anambra gymnastics team, thanked the government  for their support adding that he was glad to have contributed to the medal haul of the state.

    In other sports, Ebonyi female handball team lost 4-1 to their Anambra counterpart in the U-17 category while their male team also lost by 22 -6 still to Anambra.

    In Volleyball, Anambra dominated by beating Niger and Kano  2-0, 2-0 respectively in the senior boys category and also defeated the Niger and Kano female teams by 2-0 respectively. In football, Kwara U- 13 lost their second match  6-3  to Imo after a 1-0 loss to Kaduna, Ebonyi lost 1-0 to Anambra who earlier played 1-1 draw with Niger.

    Star of the day was 12-year-old Yaya Abayomi of the Kwara side who got monetary and and gifts for  his team that was 6-0 down in the first half by scoring two goals and one assist.

  • Anambra community bemoans plight

    Anambra community bemoans plight

    The sleepy community of Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has not seen the best of times in terms of development. Residents say they feel neglected and forgotten.

    Their roads are impassable, where they exist. According to them, the last time they had cause to smile was when former governor Chris Ngige opened  one of the roads linking Umuchu to Umunze in Orumba North Local Government Area.

    Since then, the woes of the communities have multiplied, while the farm products by the rural dwellers have equally suffered tremendously because of lack of access roads.

    Worst hit are Ojogwo-Akukwa link road, Nkpologwu-Umuchu Road and Uga-Umunze Road through Igbo-Ukwu.

    The community has written many petitions to various administrations in the state to come to its aid. Their efforts were fruitless.

    All the roads in the community, The Nation gathered, are less than 6km in total.

    If they were passable, the link roads, apart from their  economic advantage to the state, would have  provided jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates, artisans and citizens of the state. For one, they  lead to the Potters Business Park being constructed by Godwin Ezeemo to develop the area.

    Ezeemo is the proprietor of the Potter Park, which houses Global Orient Waterwell Limited.

    Also, it has Orient Feed Mill Limited which is also operational, Sokka International Limited (Operational), Honeywell Hotel Limited which is under construction and other allied businesses, also under construction.

    Good roads would have helped a great deal by complementing these facilities.

    The Nation further gathered that these establishments have over 150 staff in their employment.

    One of the community leaders, 68-year-old Evans Muoneke, told The Nation that the state of the roads has become very worrisome to the residents of the community.

    Madam Cecilia Akunna, a farmer, also told The Nation that the roads are impassable during the rainy season, adding that the leaders and elders of the community have written letters to the state government without any response.

    One of the petitions by one the community leaders, Ezeemo, read in part, “It is important to inform His Excellency that the present state of the link road is worrisome and it causes a lot of damages to raw materials, finished goods and vehicles to and fro from the establishments in the area”.

    The petition, addressed to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, was written on August 27, 2014.

    Another mail  to the governor which was signed by over 40 indigenes of the community, said, “the erosion from the said link road, if not taken care of now, will cause further damages to the entire town and particularly, the businesses by our sons located in this area that provide  employment to the populace”

    Ezeemo also in the letter to Obiano, appealed to him to look into the requests of the community to save them from being cut off from their neighbours from Uga, Akokwa in Imo State, Nkpologwu among others.

    “We appreciate the efforts of His Excellency in making the state to be one among the States in the Federation that is safe. I am hopeful that our appeal will receive your kind attention”

    However, Ezeemo who spoke with The Nation on phone said he would equally want Obiano to officially lay the foundation stone for the business park and officially open the HoneyWell Hotel in the community being planned on 28th December, 214 by the Grace of God.