As part of his continuing strategic effort to boost socioeconomic and business activities in Owerri Zone, Distinguished Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi has commissioned two modern abattoirs, complete with boreholes at Afor Alala and Umuhuocha Markets in Aboh and Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Areas, Owerri Zone.
Also flagged off same day was the construction of a strategic link road Obodo Ahiara/ Orie Ikpa Road that traverses six communities of Amuzi/ Ihenweorie Ward, the largest political ward in Ahiazu Mbaise, and market stalls at Afor Ajala, Umuhuocha and Obazu, Mbieri Markets.
The commissioning ceremony was graced by traditional, community, political leaders as well as excited and jubilant masses of the benefitting groups and communities.
Taking the lead in the shower of praises and lamentations of marginalization that had been the lot of the benefitting groups and communities before being remembered by the lawmaker, Chairmen of Ahiazu Mbaise and Afor Ajala Butchers Associations, Mr Ikechukwu Nwosu and Collins Ogbonna, said Senator Onyewuchi had given their business the kind of boost they have never experienced before for many decades.
They stated that before the building of the abattoirs they used to slaughter cows on bare ground and their business environment were comparable to slums not fit for human habitation.
The sorry situation the chairmen noted had remained unaddressed for decades despite all efforts to get those in leadership positions to help resuscitate the multimillion naira enterprise, which thousands of families in Mbaise and Owerri Zone depended on for daily survival.
They expressed heartfelt gratitude to Senator Onyewuchi for being the only politician and senator of Owerri Zone to come to their aid, while announcing that they would commence operation in the new abattoirs immediately after the commissioning.
The union leaders assured the lawmaker of their continuous support for him saying that is the only way they could repay him for the life changing projects he gave them.
Speaking in similar vein, two traditional rulers from the six autonomous communities that would enjoy the ongoing road construction flagged off that same day, His Royal Highness Eze Geoffrey Anyanwu of Obodo Ahiara Ofo Iri and Eze Desmond Diala of Obodo Ujichi as well as President General of Obodo Ahiara Town Union, Chief Bede Eze and Dr Shea Azu Okorie, Director General of Senator Onyewuchi Peoples Movement Campaign Organisation, said the project is the first of its kind in their history.
They recalled that it is the first time since 1999 that an elected senator of the zone would remember them and with a legacy project, pointing out that the gesture has really shown that he is a people oriented leader, while promising to pay him back in 2023.
At Umuhuocha, Obohia, the PDP Chairman, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government, Hon Steve Anyanwu, High Chief Emma Nneji, President General of Obohia Community and Eze Ferdinand Alilionu of Unuhuocha Autonomous Community, Obohia, lauded the lawmaker for siting the second abattoir in Umuhuocha Market.
They pointed out that the facility would bring about increased socioeconomic activities in the area and reduce the pressure presently being mounted on the abattoir at Afor Ogbe Market.
At Obazu, Mbieri, Eze Francis Elendu Agunwa of Obazu, Hon Agu Ozims PDP Chairman Mbaitoli LGA,and representative of Town Planner Iheanyi Abakume, President General of the community extolled the leadership qualities of the lawmaker and urged him to continue in giving good governance and democracy dividends to Owerri Zone.
Responding Senator Onyewuchi said that he is using the projects to appreciate the electorate of Owerri Zone for massively voting for him and all other PDP candidates in the 2019 elections, pointing out that he won in all but one ward of the zone.
The ranking lawmaker fondly called Mr empowerment for his noted penchant for human capital development and empowerment, also stressed that the projects are part of the fulfilment ofthe promises he made during the campaigns.
He declared unequivocally that he is not among politicians who go to the people to beg for support and votes, only to run away after been voted into office.
Senator Onyewuchi also noted that what he is doing is in line with the covenant of service to his people he entered with God, declaring that the any day he stops obeying the covenant, he will stop contesting elective office.
The highpoint of the day was the gift of a live cow to the lawmaker by the Afor Ajala Butchers Association.
