By Ndubizu Ugoji
A passionate appeal has been made to the Federal and Imo State governments to intervene urgently to check the devastating gully erosion and land slide at Umuchima on the Orlu-Ideato road.
The appeal is contained in a statement issued by the National Secretary of Ogbako Ideato, Chief Ndubizu Ugoji, at the end of the organization’s general assembly in Owerri, Imo State.
Ogbako Ideato (the Apex Social Cultural organization of Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas) noted that the cut off of the Orlu-Ideato road at Umuchima due to the gully erosion and land slide has left Ideato North and Ideato South locaal government areas land locked and caused monumental damage to properties just as it has brought heart breaking suffering to The people of the two local government areas and other road users plying the Orlu-Ideato road.
Ogbako Ideato noted that the erosion menace and difficulty in vehicular movement was further aggravated by the abandonment of the World Bank erosion control project at Urualla. Reason(s) for the abandonment not placed in the public domain.
The Organization lamented that the two road entrances into Ideato Nation, the Orlu-Ideato road and the Okwelle-Ntueke road have remained in dilapidated condition for many years despite the strategic position of Ideato Nation in the economic, social cultural and political life of Imo State and Nigeria at large.
Ogbako Ideato said it has begun wide and high level consultations to address the problems of erosion and vehicular movement in Ideato Nation.
The organization called on leaders of Ideato Nation irrespective political persuasion to synergize at any point the solution of Ideato Nation is the issue noting that such problems could not be solved by politicians averse to team work. Ogbako Ideato commended its members for commitment to the organization’s programmes and urged them not to relent
