By Dorcas Samson Achi
Egbema Communities have condemned the deplorable condition of Egbema roads due to negligence and abandonment by past administrations of Imo State, as they demand immediate intervention by the government of the day.
The National President of Egbema Forum, Israel O. Onyeoyibo Esq. during a Press Conference in Owerri yesterday revealed that the four roads in Egbema LGA are in unbearable state; the Avu – Adapalm – Etekwuru Road; Ejemekwuru – Agwa – Egbema Road; Oguta Motel – Egbema Road; Umuapu – Egbema Road, notwithstanding that Egbema is an oil producing clan and the Food basket of Imo state.
The Oil bearing communities took Governor Hope Uzodimma to task over the N70 billion said to have been paid by oil firms as tax for rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructure in oil bearing areas.
The communities expressed regret that instead of using such funds to rehabilitate roads in the oil producing communities, the governor has used the funds for rehabilitation of Owerri-Mbaise and Orlu-Akokwa roads.
Leaders of the communities under the aegis of Egbema Forum, expressed regret that despite the deplorable state of roads in the communities, government could sideline them and use the funds for other purposes.
Spokesperson of the group, Barr. Israel Onyeoyibo, said, “It’s on record and within the knowledge of all that Egbema has the Avu-Adapalm-Etekwuru road; Ejemekwuru-Agwa-Egbema; Oguta Motel-Egbema and Umuapu-Egbema roads. These roads have been in deplorable condition and no vehicle plies that road to Egbema”.
They demanded that at least 50 per cent of the funds be used in thr rehabilitation of dilapidated roads in the communities.
“Recently, the Federal Government brought to Imo State N70 billion as Imo state share of the taxes paid by the oil companies operating in Imo state.
“Basically those oil companies are operating in Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo state. In the circumstances, 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, 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 egg. Thus is unacceptable to the people of Egbema clan.”
The people also expressed regret that even the Ahoada-Egbema-Oguta road, which is a Federal road that criss crosses various oil producing communities in Imo state, which made it more qualified to be considered as road project to be executed with that fund, was left out.
They threatened to explore other means to push their grievances if government failed to hearken to their plea.
