By Emma Okererh
Encomium has continued to pour in since an illustrious son of Elelem, ThankGod Ikechukwu Okere, brought succour to the numerous people of Elelem as he fixed the roads to the admiration of road users that ply the roads in the community and it’s environs. The roads in the community were so dilapidated that it is apt to say ” it took a ThankGod to the Rescue”.
Elelem Autonomous Community is one of the foremost communities that make up Ngor Okpala local government of Imo state.
It is an agrarian border community as it has two roads that lead to two different communities of Igbodo and Egbelubi, all in Etche local government of Rivers state.
This border community can best be described as the food basket of Imo state as it hosts traders from Mbaise, Nkwerre, Orlu, Okigwe and others who throng the community in search of agricultural products, especially, cassava and it’s allied products which is the staple food of the people of the state.
Beyond its agricultural potentials, preliminary exploration has also revealed that the community has some mineral deposits( oil and gas) which is yet to be fully explored and developed.
Unfortunately, successive governments, from federal to state through the local government have refused to pay attention to the road needs and other infrastructural developments of the community.
Federal government?, you may want to ask.. Yes. The federal government has refused to play its part of road infrastructural development because the legendary Douglas road passes from this community. The Douglas road is a federal government trunk road that passes from Owerri, the state capital through Umuneke, the local government headquarters of Ngor Okpala via Elelem to Umuoga Igbodo in Etche local government area.
The road decay and its challenge had over the years posed a major challenge to the socio-economic development of the community as farmers labored very hard to access their farmlands while the traders that come from far and near have had to bend backwards to navigate and wade through the roads.
Economic activities suffered untold tales as vehicles continued to get stuck into the impassable roads.The state of the roads had multiplier effects as it contributed to the soaring transportation costs, incessant break down of vehicles, unwillingness of transporters to ply the roads and frictions between villagers and heavy duty vehicles that ply the roads… especially those conveying sands and other building materials.
Such gory sight was the picture of Elelem roads for a very long time before God raised a son of the soil, Mr ThankGod Ikechukwu Okere to come to the rescue of his people.
Ikechukwu, a young, vibrant and ebullient son of the soil resides in Lagos but has reduced the kilometers between Lagos and Imo to nothing as he is always in the village at the snap of a finger. He shuttles between Lagos and Ngor Okpala as though he is a Port Harcourt or Owerri based businessman. There is no news or occurrence in the community , be it good or bad that he doesn’t have at his finger tips within minutes of that occurrence. This is mainly because of the enormous interest he has for his community.
This illustrious and consummate citizen of Eleagu has at different times settled life threatening issues between individuals. He has also at different times and ways brought succour to families, settled issues that could have escalated to God-knows level. He is also instrumental to the positive resolution of some sensitive community tussles which has brought peace and prosperity to the land.
At other times, he had arrived to settle some community problems that has to do with governance, plans and development matters, albeit, quietly.
This quintessential Eleagu son is a smooth operator who doesn’t like his left hand to know what his right hand is doing. But it is said that a golden fish has no hiding place.
And so it came to pass that, as the Ember months set in, this consummate Elelem son decided to ease the burden of his kinsmen and by extension, the numerous users of these roads by fixing it to the delight of the good people of Elelem.
He discussed with the relevant stakeholders and got the graders and caterpillars roaring and tearing the soil and bushes in a typical road construction fashion.
From the Umueme Obike end of the road to Umuiche, Umuakiri village through Nkwo Ahia Elelem to Umuoka Elelem, his village, he made a bold statement by action.
At Umuoka, he constructed the roads to the Umuoga Igbodo and Egbelubi borders, all in Etche local government.
He also used fillers to ensure that the quality of road is good and of standard and may not be washed away easily.
In his Umuoka village, he also deployed solar electricity to a village where electricity is epileptic if not a luxury to behold.
ThankGod Ikechukwu Okere is a pacesetter. By delivering this very all important milestone, he has etched his name in gold in the anals of history of the community.
Event watchers and chroniclers will not forget this rare commitment and philanthropy in a hurry. This gesture can as well serve as a clarion call to all other men and women of means in Elelem to follow suit as a Chinese proverb says that if you sweep your compound and everybody sweeps, then everywhere will be clean and beautiful.
It goes to say that if other sons and daughters of Elelem will emulate this good gesture, Elelem will soon become an eldorado.
The doyen of philanthropy has set the ball rolling.
It is a well known fact that successive governments have not been able to remember this bourgeoning community just as it has been with many other communities in Ngor Okpala.
Alas, the entry point into Elelem from Owerri or Aba begins from Ulakwo junction, a death trap of over twenty years neglect. Driving from Ulakwo to Nguru, to Umuneke towards Obike and Elelem is a nightmare that nobody is happy to go through.
Same thing as accessing Ngor Okpala through Ihitte and Umukabia along the Owerri-Aba expressway. Perhaps, what Ikechukwu has done is to demonstrate to Ngor Okpala people that we can adopt the ‘can do spirit’ for ourselves.
It is also a wake up call for the state government whose responsibility it is to see that the artery roads in the communities are taken care of. This is without prejudice to the local government councils since it appears that the only thing they do these days are to manage and pay salaries to its suffering and deprived staff.
We call on all relevant authorities to pay attention to the parlous state of roads in Ngor Okpala and demonstrate that we have a government in place. Its not enough to turn Ngor Okpala to a battle ground when canvassing for votes. Ngor Okpala should also be rewarded.To ThankGod Ikechukwu Okere, more garlands and banquet of flowers. It is said that the only reward for hard work is more work .
