Success Damian:
Umenzekwe made the appeal in
his compound in Achina, Anambra State during the burial service of his mother
on May 20, 2021.
Making his appeal in the
presence of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing and former Governor of
Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, he said Anambra State is in total confusion
about erosion, Aguata Lacal Government is in disarray, and that erosion is
given a very big problem.
Speaking to the representative
of the Minister, the Federal Controller of Works, Engr Ajayi Adeyemo, Umenzekwe
said “It gives me joy that he is here today to see our road. I will still take
him round, to see where I am coming from, to support Abuja, to support Lagos.
Today, the minister has come here, I want to appeal to you, my honourable
minister, Anambra State is in total confusion about erosion, Aguata Lacal
Government is in disarray, erosion is given us a very big problem.
“Today you have come to the house
of your very good friend, people cannot come here, vehicles cannot come around,
valley all over the place, our roads are not good, gully erosion is threatening
us, the Rev Father’s house in St Joseph’s Catholic Church will soon collapse
due to erosion menace,” Umenzekwe cried out.
To create a vivid imagery of
the level of predicament in the locality, Umenzekwe said “I cannot come in here
with vehicle unless I use caterpillar as my private car, the whole of this town
are around me, asking me why are you supporting him and I am not relenting. By
being present here today, it will give me more energy, it will propel me to do
more, promoting the image of the minister and his government. Incidentally the
chairman of my party in the local government, Comrade Paul Umenduka, all the
party faithful, we are already alienated, we are abandoned, we are rejected, we
are dejected, we don’t feel that we are part of Nigeria, please carry this message
to the honourable minister,” Umenzekwe appealed.
In response the representative
of the minister said that all that is needed to be done will be done, pledging
that in as much as the roads in question are not under the federal road, it can
be done if the national assembly can include it in the budget. He appealed for
a follow-up once it is sent to the assembly.
Speaking further, he said “Chief
Modestus Umenzekwe is a very good friend of the minister and the minister could
not afford not to attend the burial of his mother.”
Umenzekwe in response
disclosed “We have through Achina Citizens Forum written to the minister, he
has replied to the letter rerouting our request to the office of the AJF to be
treated under the ecological fund, so it is now left to our community to follow
this up.
“I use this opportunity to
appeal to the Federal Government, to Anambra State Government and especially to
my very good friend, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde
Fashola, to please, if not for anything, come to my aid, the people of this
town are looking at me, they are giving me pressure and I don’t have an answer,
I hope this burial, this your visitation, will go a long way in alleviating our
problem. Thank you for coming and may God bless you while you are going back.
“I thank all. This is a
catholic mass, but from what I see, it is like an interdenominational service.
Thank you all,” Umenzekwe concluded.
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