The people of Ihie Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia state have appealed to the state government to urgently intervene and save them from imminent disaster occasioned by deplorable state of roads and gully erosion threat in the area.
The people stated this when a delegation from the Community led by the Traditional Ruler, Eze John Ogbuanu paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere at Government House Umuahia.
In an address read on behalf of the people by the President, Ihie Youth Council, Comrade Obinna Nwaimo, the people lamented that they have suffered untold hardship with economic and social activities grounded to a stand still as a result of erosion menace and deplorable state of roads in the community.
“Ihie has suffered untold hardship, neglect, marginalized and infrastructurally disadvantaged road wise since the return of democracy. Our people are peasant farmers with eighty percent of our economic activities done at the river bank.
“The six entry routes to Ihie community are cut off by gully erosion as well as all major roads to the river bank are all impassable with many already cut off also with deadly gully erosion.
“To say that our people navigate through death traps accessing family compounds and farms is not only an understatement but to say the least. Both economic and social activities in Ihie have been grounded to a halt due to erosion which washes off the high water run-off sandy roads.
“We are appealing to you for urgent intervention for rehabilitation and provision of storm drains, we are ready and willing to partner with government on how to find a lasting solution to our deplorable state of roads in the community.
While congratulating Dr. Agbazuere on his appointment, the people thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for appointing one of their sons, Tony Otuonye as the General Manager, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA).
Also speaking, the former Commissioner for Information,an indigene of the community, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha thanked the Chief of Staff for granting the group audience and expressed the continuous support of the people to the present administration.
In his response,the Chief of Staff to the Governor,Dr Anthony Agbazuere assured them that the Okezie Ikpeazu led adminstration would do everything within its powers to address the condition of roads in Ihie community.
Agbazuere while attributing the state of roads in the area to its topography said,” we will send people from the ministry of works the go and investigate so that we will know the what extent we can help”.
He said the state government has not forgotten the Ihie community in the scheme of things and sited the renovation of schools as well as the appointment of indigenes of the community into positions of trust as part of the numerous things the present administration has done for the people and called on them to sustain their support for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
