I’ll utilize ecological fund in troubled Anambra communities – APGA Reps candidate, Hon. Awogu

By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha

The Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA), for House of Representatives, Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon. Arinzechukwu Awogu has disclosed the approach he would adopt to end the myriad of ecological problems confronting Ogbaru Federal Constituency as stipulated in his manifesto.

Sir. Awogu made the promise recently, while addressing mammoth gatherings of Okpoko  stakeholders in Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra state.

He disclosed that Ogbaru Federal Constituency  is plagued by multifarious ecological challenges across its 16 communities, ranging from under-water erosion/ costal erosion, poor channelisation of drainage, weak soil texture, Perennial flooding, yearly loses in human, Agricultural and material terms.

He stated, ” I will work with the Nigeria Erosion and and Watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP) to see that all drainages crossing Asaba-Onitsha Expressway into Okpoko and crossing Owerri Road into Okpoko are blocked and rechanneled directly into the River-Niger and Idemili canal instead of passing through Okpoko. This is the reason why Okpoko is flooded, once we stop water from Upper-Iweka, Awada, Owerri Road and Asaba-Expressway from coming into Okpoko, Okpoko will no longer be flooded and Sakamori drain will also not be silted as it use to” 

He further hinted that Okpoko Community should be rescued from flash-flood that occurs whenever it rains, saying ”  Okpoko Community use to experience flash-flood any time it rains. The flood that sweeps people away in Okpoko is not rain water within Okpoko but the rain Waters from Awada, Obosi, Nkpor. 

Fegge was wrongly channeled into Okpoko which causes the flash-flood in Okpoko whenever it rains. I will work to effect its rechannelization in order to free Okpoko from the anguish of regular flooding whenever it rains. There is what is called ecological fund which was created in  1981 through the Federation account Act to serve as an intervention fund to address the various environmental challenges in Communities across the country, why that fund has not made impact in Ogbaru is what I don’t know. But, if employed through your vote, I will ensure that Ecological Fund works in Ogbaru for the remediation of the many ecological challenges in Ogbaru Federal Constituency” Awogu pledged the community.

The former Tranition Chairman of Ogbaru LG however spoke extensively on general flooding menace in Ogbaru and Nigeria in general which he said could be solved. He said, ” The harrowing experience that people of Ogbaru go through every year over the ravaging flood with huge losses in human, material terms and the accompanied discomfort and anguish can best to explained if you look on faces of our  people. 

The devastating flood has  taken lives while thousands of others have been rendered homeless with their properties lost. Several thousands hectares of farmlands have been swallowed by the flood leaving the farmers in a state of hopelessness and poverty. Communities have been sacked, schools, roads and culverts washed away Ogbaru and other Nigerian Communities are always at the receiving end of this ugly flood disaster  coming from the cameroonian Lagdo Reservoir ( Dame) .

“The water is released from this Dame from time to time to avoid heavy destruction in the Republic of Cameroon. When it was released in 2012, it caused massive flood disaster in  Ogbaru and to  other Nigerian Communities.

“This year 2022, the doors and windows of the Lagdo Reservoir ( Dame) were opened and Ogbaru and other Nigerian Communities faced the tragedy once again. I will push for a permanent solution to this flood disaster. The Federal Government should dredge and deepen our Rivers and tributaries and at the same time building our own Dame and Buffer Zones to collect excess water so as to free Ogbaru and other Nigerian Communities from flooding. The Dames will provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmlands as well as generate electricity to give power. With this approach, instead of the yearly losses, we would have gained multiple of positive advantages from the Dame.

“This line of thought will be pursued very strongly by me at the National Assembly if I am employed by you people, God willing, I will equally pursue a program of land reclamation from the River Niger and assured that part of the larger objective will be returned the River Niger to its original routes that was away from Ogbaru mainland.

My assurance to you and the good people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency is that under my representation, I will deploy all legislative instruments to the benefit and service our Federal Constituency and I will ensure prudent utilisation of Constituency fund for genuine, impactful people-focused, transparent and verifiable project and program. This I can guarantee you. And I pledge to be the embodiment of the true Ogbaru spirit of brotherhood responsibility, hard work, selflessness, fairness, fear of God, courage and commitment to equity and social justice”

Earlier, Hon. Awogu has continued to keep to his promises of maintaining and carrying out issue based campaign which he has so far presented practical and workable approach to all issue of interest to the people of Ogbaru. He has listed critical areas of needs where he will be bringing his full weight to bear and he also discussed them extensively in his manifesto as his preparedness to deliver the need of the people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency.

The critical areas includes; Education, Health care, Roads and water, Infrastructural Development, Sports and Social Development, Ecological and Environmental Interventions, Agricultural Development, Industrial Development, as well as Youths and women Empowerment, Community Development, Disabled and the Disadvantaged in our society and maximum benefits to Ogbaru people from oil activities in their area.

In their separate speeches, Chief Duhu Ezebunwanne, Mr. Nnabuike Emmanuel and Nze Obekalie Rapheal who responded on behalf of Okpoko Community told Hon. Awogu that Okpoko has adopted him as their candidate for the House of Representatives, Ogbaru Federal Constituency in 2023.

They said ” Hon. Awogu has been with us. He knows the terrain of our environment and understands our problems. He is willing and capable to address them. So, what we need Okpoko needs is a sincere and trust worthy representative that feels the every day problems of Okpoko resident” said the Community.