Even with the recent commissioning of the Ngwo/Millikin Hill road by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, I am still expecting to wake up from this dream.
But the more I tried to convince myself that I have been dreaming, the more the reality stares me in the face. This is not just about me, the same goes for every Ngwo indigene.
For 35 years our people suffered the pains of a dilapidated road. Yes, we groaned; we cried out but the neglect continued over successive administrations.
The abandoned road finally became a nightmare even as my people began to lose their voices. Suddenly, a Daniel came to Judgment, and Governor Ugwuanyi wiped the tears of my people. And by so doing wrote his name in gold in Ngwo; such that even a hurricane cannot erode.
I decided to write because ‘who feels it, knows it.’ I write because I wore the shoes and I felt the pain. You can imagine how I felt when I saw on Facebook attempts to discredit the governor over the same road. Surely the handiwork work of political detractors. I asked myself, do people still have conscience?
They tried to malign the man who saved my people by sharing pictures of a little portion of the road that gave in to natural forces.
Before now government had issued an announcement warning people from further deterioration of the natural reserve called forest reserve in the Millikin hill.
It warned against activities at the top, and at the foot pointing out that those activities at the foot include the use of plant and equipment. Government also expressed concern that people are doing some unapproved structure within the precinct of the Millikin hill.
The State Commissioner for Works Engr. Greg Nnaji while reacting to the recent developments noted the activities on the hill may have triggered off some kind of natural default in the earth which now has manifested as a threat.
These threats he said are not something you see significantly in a very short time. It would have been due to activities over the years but at a particular time it manifests and the manifestation is what we have seen as a default.
The commissioner said that proactively, government had gone into remediation of the threats and taking a step further to increase what he called more erosion control measure as a remedy adding that such remedies are considered as a finality remedy now the sign have been seen.
“We didn’t see this sign earlier, it’s an unforeseen thing. We are now checking it with adequate structures to ensure it does not happen again,” he had said.
He described what happened as an Act of God explaining that erosion control measures has reached the height that was unforeseen.
But his political opponents who have been looking for an opening for cheap blackmail would not even listen to good reasons.
They did not expect such a laudable step from a man paying salaries with the available lean resources.
But they can’t fool the good and discerning people of Enugu state because this is not an issue of peace and security, it is not welfare, it is not rural development, it is not infrastructure, the government has done so well. It still amazes them that in spite of the lean resources the governor is able write his name in gold at the Millikin hill.
The road is iconic with great historical background. Before now the12 km road was a nightmare. Mischief makers decided to catch in because there is no other thing to talk about. Many never believed the road could be done and are still shocked at the marvelous work on the road.
Nobody said this about the former governor Sullivan Chime who gave contract for the 9th-mile/ Udi/Oji-River/Anambra border. The road collapsed at the Anambra border in Oji-River; it was so bad that Anambra people could not go home; it was a nightmare for road users. This was a contract worth billions of naira, and the people continued to suffer on the road until Governor Ugwuanyi intervened.
The people of Enugu must disregard these sycophants, these Hawks who have refused to appreciate the wonderful work done at the hill. A good critic would have been one who will first of all praise the efforts and resolve of this government to embark on the project that was abandoned by successive administration. But they won’t do that because of their sinister motive; because they don’t mean well for the good people of Enugu they decided to use it as a campaign tool.
The Opi/Nsukka road with underground drainage is the first of its kind in this part of the world, they won’t talk about it. What of the roads in Akpugoeze, the Ehamufu’s, the Ogbuago’s, the ugbene’s,, Emene, they have not commented on these roads. Their problem is, why would this government remember this road? Of-course the Ngwo community will forever be grateful because we know we are directly involved.
We will, therefore, not stand and watch while some politicians hanging around, and who wants to declare for governorship discredit the good works of our governor. They are looking for one or two things to run to the media as an avenue to come into the race. But there is no loophole.
Enugu people are happy and at home with the government of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and have demonstrated this through their various endorsements which is the first of its kind.
Boniface Agu Writes from Umuonoh Family Enugu-Ngwo
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