BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
In Ebonyi State, the Ukawu Leaders of Thought, ULT on Sunday converged at Ukawu Secondary School to chart ways of reviving the declining development in her community following the alleged lack of government presence in the area.
Ukawu is a community housing Okuzzu, Amaoffia, Amankpuma and Ochege villages, in Onicha Local Government Area, the southern zone of Ebonyi State.
In his speech, the ULT Chairman, Engr Chukwunonyelum Nwutobo said the gathering became necessary for the people to brainstorm on the best possible ways to put their muscle together towards the community development.
According to Nwutobo, with the large turnout of the illustrious sons and daughters of the community, who returned from different parts of the country and abroad for the meeting, soon the complains about the dilapidated infrastructures in the area would be a thing of the past.
He appealed to Ebonyi State government to come to their aid, noting that the community school buildings among other social amenities have collapsed and 'they are no longer used.
Another community Leader, Dr Jeremiah Uhuo, said that the declining nature of the community's infrastructures was the major thing that touched ULT members, leading to their agreement to put their resources together to give hope to their people.
"We are touched by the declining development in our community over the years. We were the leading community in old Ohaozara, because Ukawu was the second largest community among other communities in old Ohaozara," he said.
Uhuo attributed the declining development in the area to the alleged non-inclusion of the community people in governance since 2015.
"We knew we were the leading community in old Ohaozara but suddenly after the death of Innocent Nwali, who was the first indigenous Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area, we have not had any representative in government.
"What we have are members of House of Assembly and this is different from the representative in the executive position. For that reason, since 2015 specifically, we haven't had anybody in the government. From that note, we felt that we should call the attention of the government to intervene on the declining infrastructure in the community," he noted.
Uhuo however, thanked the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, for his intervention on road and bridge constructions, getting closer to Ukawu community, to shorten the people's journey to Abakaliki town.
He lamented that Ukawu Secondary School has collapsed, noting that "the school had over 7000 students and now, has less than 1,000 students, because of the dilapidated buildings and lack of teachers.
"We don't even have health centre where people from Ukawu can go for treatment. The capacity of the youths is declining, and you know if the young ones are doing nothing, they take to crime, and they will continue to increase crime untill they are positively engaged.
"We have come home to help ourselves, to give hope to our people. Take it for instance, the Amudo bridge linking us with the other side of the river has collapsed, six months ago and no attention has been given to it.
"This meeting is to call our people and tell them that we must have to start a project. So, Ukawu Leaders of Thought is a body Known as a think-tank and advisory to the leaders of the community. We have come together to put our minds together, begin to put money to embark on self-help-development.
"So, we are starting with Ukawu Secondary School and Ukawu Health Centre. We are also going to launch development project at the tune of 200million for our bridge. While doing that, we are going to involve government attention to get its support," Uhuo stated.
Earlier, while giving words of exaltation to the people, Engr Pastor Paul Chukwu urged the people to embrace peace and unity while championing for the progress of the community.
"Not only in Ukawu, but any family or group who is not united will definitely fall. And that's why we should be united. In Ebonyi State, it is characterised by different crises due to lack of love, peace and unity among the residents of the state.
"What is most important in this community is peace. What is most important in the society is the kind of contributions you are making towards building peaceful co-existence among people. It's all about loving one another," Pastor Chukwu advised.
He warned the community people especially the youths against political thuggery, noting that, "some of us may be nursing to contest one political position or the other but outside peace, love and unity, we may end up having no home to witness the day."
Meanwhile, some of the community stakeholders who spoke during the event including Onowu Bernard Nwotolo, Prince John Elom, Dr Nicolas Onele, Dr Alfred Unah, Dr Humphrey Ngwuta, Comrade Kenechukwu Ugbala, Mrs Rachel Oduri, among others lamented many deprivations by the government, but expressed optimism that the recent development would change the ugly narratives in the area.
