From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Paramount ruler of Ohazu, a large semi-urban community, in Aba South Area Council of Abia State, Eze Sunday Emejiaka, has urged the incoming governor of the state to pay attention to rural development.
He also said the Nigeria Police require modern training and equipment to tackle problems of insecurity plaguing the nation. The British-trained human resources manager further canvassed support for community policing as obtained in other countries.
How do you cope with the new wave of criminal activities by youths in your domain?
Our community is among the largest in the state, with three clans of Ndiegoro, Akoli and Iheorji and has a large population living below poverty level. So, one would naturally expect restiveness among the youths. Initially, there were problems of insecurity. Hoodlums used to barge into shops and residential houses with arms at broad daylight, to steal from people. It was so bad and the police were overwhelmed. We had to set up a vigilante group, after receiving approval from the state’s Police authorities. Though the Commissioner of Police, did not approve the use of weapons by the group, but this has drastically reduced the problem to a minimal level.
Ndiegoro or Ohazu community is known as “Ama Nmong,” a descriptive name for people living in poverty and underdevelopment, why the acronym and how did it come by?
This is the area you find people with practical training in the various trades, artisans, tailors, shoe makers that do not have financial muscle to set up big outfits to practice their occupation. People from various states, within the South East and South South zones are living with us and doing business. In fact, non indigenes make up for over 80 percent of our population, and they provide cheap labour to micro and small-scale industrial outfits in Aba. They are here because accommodation is cheap, labour is cheap and also cost of living.
What is your take on Federal Government’s stand on dealing with youths agitating for secession in the Southeast?
Let me begin with destruction of public property, burning of police stations, INEC offices and correctional services centres. This is absurd. We cannot because there is unemployment and hunger in the land, and allow our youths to go against the law. On its part, government ought to look into whatever their grievances are. That we were defeated in the civil war (1967-70), as claimed in certain quarters, does not make the Igbo man, a second-class citizen in Nigeria. We are being marginalized, that’s what our youths are complaining about. The authorities should look into it and not engage in calling us bad names, in order to condemn us.
In which areas has your community received development assistance from government, either state or federal?
Our public infrastructure has been in dilapidated condition over many years. However, the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration, engaged in reconstruction of some major roads like Ngwa and Ohanku Roads, among others. Though, Ngwa Road has been completed, the other major road, Ohanku, that provides access to millions of residents in the suburban communities and villages in our land, was not. The contractors left the job, barely soon after commencement, and we do not know why. The said Ohanku Road, links Aba city with neighbouring communities in Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East Council Area, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States in the Eastern flank, while it connects Ukwa West Area with, Obigbo, Port Harcourt, on to the East/West Highway that travels through Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, in to Lagos. We had wished we got more roads rehabilitated in our area. Also, poor electricity supply is greatly affecting us, especially small-scale business people that use power in their production lines.
What would you wish the incoming government to do to uplift the living standards of the people, especially rural community dwellers?
The reason for having third tier government is to take charge of developing the rural communities and villages, to make them feel and actually become part of the system. There are projects the Local Governments or County Councils are supposed to handle. However, in our land, this is not so. The authorities in the state are not giving those in the councils the needed freedom to know the needs of their people and how to tackle them. Everything seems to be coordinated at the centre, while Council Chairmen take directives on what and what not to do. Most times, these chairmen are appointed by the administration in power in the state, to do more of their bosses’ directive instead of the desires of the people. This is our problem. I wish the incoming administration will do the right things and allow Local Governments to carry out their Constitutional responsibilities with the funds allocated to them for such purposes. This will reduce running to Umuahia, or Abuja, to beg for certain amenities that the third-tier government should do.