Elder Statesman, Professor TOC Ndubizu has wept bitterly that the World Bank ten billion naira erosion control project at Urualla was allowed to elapse without execution just as all communities in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas are groaning under excruciating pain occasioned by ravaging erosion menace.
Prof Ndubizu was speaking at his country home in Urualla while exchanging views with the National Secretary of Ogbako Ideato (the Apex Socio-Cultural Organization of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas) Chief Ndubizu Ugoji.
Prof Ndubizu said that the World Bank erosion control project which was due for execution during the tenure of Governor Rochas Okorocha in Imo State could not be implemented because of disagreement between the then State government and the World Bank on the procedure for handling the project execution.
The Elder Statesman disclosed that the then Imo State government demanded to be allowed to supervise the project implementation as a condition for authorizing it’s execution as well as paying Imo State government counter fund of five hundred million naira (#500m) which was condition president for the project kick off.
The World Bank on its part insisted that the procedure for her project implementation could not be negotiated or altered. The project remained stalled until the coming of Emeka Ihedioha administration when Governor Ihedioha approved the payment of the counter part fund and ordered commencement of work. According to Prof Ndubizu, the Imo State government under Chief Hope Uzodinma has again ordered for stoppage of work without offering any explanation to the public.
Prof Ndubizu said the project programmed for completion within twenty months from the date of commencement has since elapsed and the World Bank has since pulled out.
The Elder Statesman described the project as a hung jury lamenting that it was a consequence of what he described as the mass hypnocism towards electing political leaders.
In his reaction, Ogbako Ideato National Secretary, Chief Ndubizu Ugoji, charged leaders of Ideato Nation to place top priority to finding solution to erosion problem in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas.
Last Ogbako Ideato rose from its general assembly in Owerri with an SOS message to the federal and Imo State governments to take urgent action to address erosion menace in the two local government areas particularly the gully erosion and land slide at Umuchima on the Orlu-Ideato road.
Ogbako Ideato noted that the cut off of the Orlu-Ideato road at Umuchima has left Ideato North and Ideato South local 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 as well as road users plying the Orlu-Ideato road.
The erosion challenges of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas dates back to early 1970s. Among the earliest publicised sites were those at Umumaisiaku in Ideato South and the over four kilometre Ikpa Nwangwu soil erosion/land slide stretching from Isiokpo, Umuisim Akpulu, Ubaha Akpulu to Ama Durujiburu in Mberu Isiokpo.
Today, due to the continuously undulating topography of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas all communities in the two local government areas are groaning under the yoke of devastating erosion menace. Among those that adversely hindered vehicular movement are the Umuchima erosion on Orlu-Ideato road. Isiekenesi and Umueshi deep gullies on Okwelle-Ntueke road, over four kilometre Ikpa Nwangwu gully erosion land slide at Isiokpo and the catastrophe brought to Urualla by the pull out of the World Bank from its erosion control project in the community.
About 2009/2010, the federal government came with a rescue package and reportedly sent twelve billion naira to control erosion in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas.
A member of the then Imo State Executive Council, Mrs Comfort Chukwu criss crossed the two local government areas to identify erosion sites; nothing was heard about her report.
A lot of errors and omissions have been committed from 1970s to date to bring Ideato Nation to its knees on erosion devastation. It is no longer time for blame game but immediate action.
Any work to be done next dry season MUST BE SET IN MOTION NOW.
Ndubizu Ugoji
National Secretary
Ogbako Ideato
Sept 27/9/2024
