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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The leaders of Egbema clan in Ohaji/ Egbema council area of Imo state, under the aegis of Egbema Forum , are demanding that the community be given a 50 per cent share of the N70 Billion given to the Imo state government by the federal government as taxes paid by Oil companies operating in the state .
They pointed out that the Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma recently flagged off the construction of Owerri – Mbaise- Umuahia road and Orlu – Akokwa road with the N70 billion without considering any one in the entire Egbema, including the Ahoda- Egbema – Oguta a federal road that links the various oil producing communities in Imo state.
National President of the Egbema Forum, Mr Israel Onyeoyibo who stated this at a press conference held in Owerri,Imo state capital on Thursday, lamented that the situation that Egbema finds itself in Imo state since its creation has been a tale of woes as the people have been abandoned by successive governments in spite of its status as the geese that lay the golden eggs.
He pointed out all the major roads in Egbema have collapsed and in deplorable condition.
Onyeoyibo said : Recently , the federal government brought to Imo state N70 Billion as Imo state share of the taxes paid by the oil companies operating in Ohaji/ Egbema and Oguta local government areas of Imo state . In the circumstance, equity and fairness demand that Egbema with its peculiar nature and deplorable condition of its roads should be considered in putting part of that N70 Billion to use by the government of Imo state .
” Only recently, the governor of Imo state , Senator Hope Uzodimma flagged off the construction of Owerri- Mbaise- Umuahia road and Orlu – Akokwa road with the N70 Billion leaving out the geese that lay the golden eggs . That is not acceptable to the people of Egbema clan.”
He added, ” It is important to note that Ahoda – Egbema- Oguta road is a federal road and it criss – crosses various oil producing communities in Imo state, thereby making the road more qualified to be considered as one of the projects to be executed with the N70 billion in the event that the road projects should be only federal roads .
“We demand for 50 percent of the N70 billion oil tax money paid by the Oil companies operating In Imo state to be allocated to Ohaji/ Egbema and Oguta councils of Imo state . ”
He stressed that the people are ready to go beyond mere demand by going further to take actions we consider necessary to achieve ” equity, justice and fairness in their demand.
