By Jude Atupulazi
Frustrated by the seeming abandonment of their area by the Anambra State Government of Willie Obiano, elders and stakeholders of Awka North LGA are demanding for a separate state away from Anambra in order to fend for themselves.
Addressing newsmen in Awka last Sunday in Amansea, the stakeholders under the aegis of Awka North Association of Past Presidents General led by Chief Mike Ekwunife, sent an SoS to Gov Obiano on the deplorable condition of roads in their area and regretted that Awka North was not getting the same attention other local governments were getting.
Speaking on behalf of the group, chairman, Ekwunife, former President General of Amansea Community, lamented that lack of access roads in the area was stifling economic activities as potential investors were taking their leave.
He recalled how the area lost an investment opportunity by one of their sons based abroad after the man had gone round the communities in the local government and decided take his business elsewhere after he found the area unfavourable.
Ekwunife who said they had written several letters to concerned authorities, including the governor’s wife, noted that their initial hopes that the area would benefit from Obiano, who, he said, hailed from same Igbo Adabe Clan, had vanished over time because they had been neglected.
‘What we need most are roads. We hope we have not made a mistake by supporting our brother, Obiano. He should come to our aid and do the needful,’ Ekwunife, former PG of Amansea, stated.
Noting that roads would open up the area economically, he called on Obiano to declare a state of emergency on roads in Awka North.
‘We are appealing to the governor and our representatives in the National Assembly to assist us. Awka North should be on the priority in any contract being awarded,’ he maintained.
In his contribution, another stakeholder, Mr Shedrach Anakwue, said the area would consider having a state of their own rather than continue to belong to a state which did not care for them.
He regretted that Obiano had failed to fulfill his promise of completing one of the roads started by former Gov Peter Obi, when both of them had come to the community during Obiano’s first term campaign. He therefore said the option left for the people of the area was to yearn for a separate state since they had not been recognized as part of Anambra.
Awka North is made up of ten communities, including Ugbene, Ugbenu, Amansea, Isuaniocha, Ebenebe, Mgbakwu, Amanuke, Awba Ofemili, among others.
