By Uzo Ugwunze
The Chairman Committee on Oba Markets, Hon Ogonna Ndozie has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State for completing the rehabilitation work at the Afor Uzo Oba market axis of the Nnewi – Oba old road and for the installation of metal barricades in front of the market to check mate the excesses of traders who encroach on the busy road to sell wares.
Speaking to newsmen at his office at Afor-Uzo Market Oba, Idemili South LGA, Hon Ogonna Ndozie who is also the Oba Patriotic Union(OPU) Vice President II also solicited for the award and construction of the Umuoji -Oba – Akwuukwu Road which has been politicized and abandoned by previous administrations despite its strategic position linking two other LGAs.
Ndozie eulogized the trio of Governor Soludo, the Executive Chairman of Idemili South LGA, Hon. Amaka Obi (Iyom Ife-Abata) and Oba OPU President General, Engr Anthony Uzo Ejiofor for contributing to the success of the road reconstruction, barricade installation projects and many other projects and programs affecting Oba people positively saying that Oba traders and people are solidly behind their proactive leadership.
“Just last month, the front of Afor Uzo Oba market was impassable because of the failed potions which even resulted in the fall of a container body trailer right across the Oba old road. When our PG involved the Mayor for assistance she arranged the filling of the pot holes with stone lumps as a temporary measure but when she called on His Excellency the road was awarded and is now smooth and no longer a threat to lives of commuters and Oba residents.
“Before now,Our market taskforce have been trying to keep the traders at Afor Uzo Oba market from encroaching the road for the interest of the traders because of accident but they labelled us enemies of progress. The Idemili South Mayor after sinking a borehole at Oba Civic Center promised to put the barricades before the State Government came and installed them. These are very laudable projects”.
“At this juncture, I must commend my PG, Engr. Ejiofor who is working round the clock to make sure that governance gets to Oba community and people.
“We are also pleading with Governor Soludo to come and build this Umuoji -Oba -Akwuukwu road which have been flagged off severally by past Governors but abandoned. The long stretch of road connects Idemili North, Idemili South and even Ekwusigo LGAs. 90 percent of Oba or Umu Idemili makes use of this road. It will reduce traffic gridlock at some other roads and open up the Communities for prospective economic activities and investments.
“We know that the state government has been sending some people to come and examine the road but he has not made an official statement about the road. Soludo is a man of his words and if he eventually builds this road which his predecessors could not do, Oba and even Idemili people will give him more than 99 percent of their votes in the next election. By the time Soludo applies his solution mantra for 8 years on the Governor’s seat Anambra will surely stand out better than other states,” said Ndozie.