Chukwuemeka Egejuru
Ndoki Union has decried the bad state of Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Local Government Area (LGA) roads in Abia state, adding that it has gone from bad to worst.
The President-General, Ndoki Union, Rev. Felix Akara who stated this during the 2022 Ndoki Summit held at Akwete, Ukwa-East LGA, charged Ndoki political representatives to be creative in helping to solve Ndoki challenges by responsible utilization of public resources.
The clergy further questioned: ‘why are their hospitals in dilapidated state and electricity eluded their people for decades and still counting, urging political office holders in Ndoki land to provide answers as accountable stewards.
Akara who frowned at lack of dividends of democracy in Ndoki land, called on all and sundry wake up and pursue Ndoki developmental course.
He identified patriotism, reconciliation and brotherhood as the bedrock for development, urging Ndoki people to adopt this pattern to develop the Ndoki nation.
In his words: “Let’s kill resentment and unite, we will build industries, create employment, set up apparatus for the security of our land, build hospitals and equip them, set up trust funds for Human Capital Development, empower and engage the youths meaningfully among others.
He called on Ndoki nation to emulate the General Overseer, Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, an Ndoki man, by building farms for employment, scholarship schemes, skill acquisition, sponsorship of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, textiles and large scale tailoring business to engage the youths among others.
This, he, said would cut down crime, and drug abuse and urged noble Ndoki people to mentor youths along the path of success.
The cleric also charged youths to shun the use of drugs and strive for self-worth and embrace the lifestyle of patriotism before it becomes too late.
He congratulated Mkporobe Ndoki community for winning the first Ndoki Unity Cup with a lone goal against Akwete, adding that the tournament was designed to build bridges of unity across Ndoki land, promote brotherhood, youth inclusion, spirit of enterprise and showcase to the world the hidden talents in Ndoki land among others.
The President-General further commended the Chairman, Organizing Committee, Comrade Obioma George for a well-organized tournament, void of hitches.
Ndoki Union helsman further identified electricity as the most distressing situation in Ndoki land, adding that Ndoki people in Ukwa-East have continued to grope in darkness for some decades now.
He noted with dismay that in spite Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s grant of N15 Million towards the restoration of electricity in Ukwa-East, its (funds) management remained controversial, while electricity has continued to be a far-cry in Ukwa-East.
Information gathered alleged that the former Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), Commissioner, Mr. Adiele Ekeke unilaterally interfaced, approved and awarded the sum of N10 Million out of the N15 Million to a contractor (DJ Electrical) with little or nothing to show for it as darkness still prevails in Ukwa-East.
Rev. Akara further commended Ndoki nobles for identifying with Ndoki people at the height of the pandemic lockdown with palliatives to cushion the attendant hardship.
The President-General further made the following submissions among others: To have all Ndoki (in Abia, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom) in one state, preferably Rivers State; move Asa and Ndoki into Rivers State, go for ENOA state creation.
Meanwhile, the chairman on the occasion and the Secretary-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, His Excellency, Amb. Okey Emuchay has charged Ndoki people to wake up and stop behaving like dwarfs.
The former Nigerian Consul-General in South Africa who further revealed that the first Amanyanabo of Bonny in Rivers State was a Ndoki man, maintained that Ndoki people must begin to take the stage and tell their own story as no one would do it for them.
In a related development, the Deputy Majority Leader, and member representing Ukwa-East state constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Taribo Paul has moved a motion for all Ndoki communities in Abia, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states to be one.
This motion was seconded by Prof. Onyee N. Nwankpa from Umuagbai Ndoki in Rivers State with the Village Head of Ohaobu Ndoki in Akwa-Ibom state, Chief Dandeson Onuoha also supporting the same motion.
In his remark, the Ezeala IX/traditional ruler of Umuokobo clan Ndoki Oyigbo LGA Rivers State, Eze Nwankwo Nwankwo called on Ndoki people to insulate themselves from the habits and expectations that tends to make people place priority on ill-gotten wealth, praise-singing, and other vices and focus on hardwork and disciplined efforts which Ndoki is traditionally known and saluted for.
He imployed Ndoki people to have a well-defined succession plan for the realization and actualization of more pragmatic Ndoki citizenry, adding that the success of a leader is in a worthy successor.
In his lecture entitled: ‘Ndoki safety amidst security challenges’, Brigadier General Chima Ekeator revealed that Nigeria has less than 150,000 security personnels across the country, with several ungovern spaces to contend with, hence, the need to take security matters seriously.
Brig. Gen. Ekeator further disclosed that the insecurity cycle has assumed an alarming proportions, prompting the increasing need/efforts to ensure individual and communities security.
In his words: “Ndoki land, being part and parcel of Nigeria is not isolated from this increasing insecurity”.
He advised that Ndoki communities should complement the security efforts of the government by setting up Community Development Council (CDC) to oversee security matters as well as other critical issues in their communities.
In his swift reaction, the member representing Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West LGAs at Federal House of Representatives Abuja, Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta has blamed his constituents for the deplorable state of critical infrastructures in Ukwa land, adding that they cannot eat their cakes and also have it.
Abonta said that he attracted Obehie-Azumini road with the contract awarded to a Chinese company (CCECC) but when they contractor came for enumeration, his constituents hurriedly erected 121 imaginary shrines, 87 markets, 129 filling stations for compensation.
The federal lawmaker further exonerated himself from the deplorable state of roads in Ukwa, insisting that the two years enumeration by the company yielded no results as his constituents resisted the road construction with imaginary shrines, markets, and filling stations among others.
The Ndoki-born politician who maintained that mobilizing the Chinese company back to site would be extremely difficult as they are being owed about N3 Billion by the Federal Government.
Contributing, the Chairman, Ukwa-East LGA, Hon Chuks Wabara, has called for collaboration with stakeholders in Ukwa-East in order to deepen democracy at the grassroot.
Highlights of the was the inauguration of Ndoki Union Youth Wing by the President-General of Ndoki Union with Barr. Ukeagume Nwaeke Stephen as President, Comrade Israel Akara Chuta as Vice-president while Comrade Kingsley Ogbonna would serve as the Secretary.