From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
In furtherance of his committment to enhance socio-infrastructural development of rural communities in Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constiuency, Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, on Wednesday, September 3, flagged-off the construction of three roads that links several communities in Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constiuency as part of his constituency project.
The roads are the Amankwo Imezi- Ndiagu Oghe road, Amansiodo -Ihuonyia Oghe road and Akama Oghe road.
He also inspected the damaged Iyi Ocha bridge at Awha Ndiagu Community, promising to attract an intervention for it too.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of APC supporters, the traditional institution, women and youths at Amankwo Imezi Oghe, the Federal Lawmaker appraised the support of President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the House of Representatives,in achieving his tall dream for the construction of the roads.
He assured that the roads will be asphalted but executed in phases. He tasked the rural dwellers to ensure the security of both the workers and equipment of the construction firms.
He pleaded with the contractors to involve the rural dwellers in areas where they are specialised but cautioned that quality and stipulated standards must not be compromised
The overwhelmed rural dwellers expressed their immense gratitude to President Tinubu and pleaded that it would not be abandoned after a while. They also commended Hon. Umeha for making a difference from the empty promises by previous administrations,assuring they will continue to stand by him,the APC as a party, promising their strong support for President Tinubu’s re election in 2027.
The traditional Prime minister of Amankwo Imezi Oghe, Igwe C.C.Ebueke, ably represented by Hon John Onwuama and the President General of Amankwo Imezi Town Union, Hon.vChukwunonso Odenigbo, commended Hon.Umeha for attracting the project and prayed that it would be completed to enhance interconnectivity with Ndiagu Oghe, their neighbours.
Ace broadcaster, Chief Charles Okwesili, an indigene of the community told newsmen that the construction of the road when completed will facilitate a few minutes ride from Amankwo Imezi – Ndiagu Oghe, thereby reducing drastically the high cost of transportation involved in linking Amankwo Imezi and Ndiagu Oghe from another community.
His words,” Ordinarily going from Amankwo Imezi to Ndiagu Oghe will only take ten minutes but due to the bad road which has disconnected the two communities, it takes over an hour to link Ndiagu Oghe from Amankwo Oghe. Our people pay heavily up to N1,500 for an Okada ride(commercial motorcycle) in doing so”.
At Amansiodo Community, another crowd of excited rural dwellers waited patiently to witness the flag off of the Amansiodo -Ihuonyia Oghe road also attracted by Hon.Sunday Umeha.
Hon.Jude Okoye who introduced himself as the traditional Clchief priest of the community, extolled Hon.Umeha for breaking the jinx of communication gap between the community and their past Representatives. He assured the community will continue to support him in his further political endeavours, assuring they will vote massively for President Tinubu’s second term re- election in 2027.
The Parish priest, Rev.Fr.John Ugwa made compassionate appeal for a support to establish a rural market in the community.
Addressing the crowd,bHon.Umeha revealed he wouldn’t have done much if he has not embraced APC, after quitting Labour Party.
He stressed that the APC controlled Federal Government led by President Tinubu is working assiduously to redress the socio infrastructural decay in the South East zone,brought about by the PDP deliberate neglect of the zone in it’s 16 years rule
He explained that barely two years in office, President Tinubu is reconstructing the Enugu to Onitsha express road and Enugu to Port Harcourt express road abandoned by the PDP led Federal government.
He said that President Tinubu has graciously signed the bill establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) into law. He disclosed that a total of three hundred billion(N300 billion) has been approved for the take off of the commission, purposely for tackling abundant socio infrastructural decay in the South East zone.
Hon Umeha argued that the previous administrations did not perform what President Tinubu has done in the South East zone, barely two years in office. He pleaded with them to give maximum support to President Tinubu’s administration and his re -election in 2027, assuring that the South East will benefit more under President Tinubu more than ever before.
At Akama Oghe, a large crowd defied a torrential downpour to wait and witness the flag off the construction of their road by Hon. Sunday Umeha.
Speaking to newsmen, the leader of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency,FERMA in Enugu State, Engr. Johnbliss Nwoke, who monitored the flag off of the projects, assured they will be supervising the projects to ensure the Contractors keep to standard.
He urged the people of Oghe to see the projects as their own and do their very best in protecting both the workers and the equipment, to avoid sabotage.
While promising to attract intervention in the damaged bridge across Iyi Ocha in Awha Ndiagu, Hon .Umeha compassionately accepted to bear the cost of repairing a dilapidated primary school in the community.
He lamented dearth of social amenities in Awha Ndiagu and called on the Enugu state government to come to the aid of the community, promising to render further assistance in alleviating the infrastructural needs of Awha Ndiagu comnunity.
