Cosmas Ekpunobi
11 November 2009
South East governors yesterday asked President Umaru Yar'Adua to declare an emergency on erosion and roads in the zone, warning that greater areas of the geopolitical zone would soon be cut off from other parts of the country, unless something urgent was done.
However, Governor Peter Obi in a separate submission revealed how the federal government awarded 16 non existing contracts for erosion control in the state, saying the people had waited enough for government's intervention to no avails.
It was indeed a tale of woes, in Enugu, venue of the 2009 Senate retreat as the governors from the zone took turns to narrate how many families in their respective states have been wiped out by erosion.
In their submissions at the second day of the retreat, the governors appealed to the federal government to launch massive infrastructural development in the zone to jump-start real development in the affected states.
Governor Ikedi Ohakim in a detailed presentation told the Senate how some families located near the erosion sites can no longer sleep comfortably for the fear that they may be submerged any time by erosion.
He said Imo State had identified over 460 erosion sites in the adding that the state had already spent the sum of N12.8 billion on 31 sites alone.
He said another N19 billion is required to carry out the design in other identified erosion sites in the state.
Ohakim tasked the Senate to put the outcome of its retreat to work, adding that there are fears that some villages in the states of the south east may become history unless the federal government declare emergency on erosion and roads.
Obi in his presentation, recalled how the federal government awarded 16 contracts on erosion control, but said noting has been done in any part of the state the said contracts ordinarily should have covered.
He said a number of government agencies had visited the erosion sites in the state but such visits were yet to translate into action.
Obi told the Senate that Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the south east has come under severe threat following the ravaging erosion problem in the area.
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State submitted that almost all the federal government roads are in bad shape, adding that unless government declare emergency on roads and erosion in the south east
His Enugu counter part Silva Chime said states alone cannot tackle the erosion adding that unless the federal government wades into the menace, more villages would go down.
Meanwhile, former Chief Justice of the Federation (CJF), Justice Mohammed Uwais, has lamented the delay in the handling of electoral petitions adding that such petitions should be disposed off at least three months before the inauguration of any new administration.
Uwais in his presentation at the retreat said the adoption of most of the recommendations of his electoral reform committee could help to reshape the nation's electoral system.
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Creating confusion, making life very unsafe and neglet of the South east especially Anambra State, are some of the hidden agenda of the President Umaru Yardua administration. Does it surprise any body that 16 non existent contracts were awarded for the control of erosion in ANS alone? Shame on the comatosed, unresponsive and paralysed government of Yardua; a highly deceptive and massively corrupt government. We may continue to deceive our selves that Abacha's government is more corrupt than this government, but I am happy that the international community knows us for what we are. Let me make it clear that corruption is not all about stealing money but more about not taking certain positive actions because it will work against the selfish interests of one's political associates. In the present circumstance, will Yardua be man enough to call the Minister involved to account? Of course not! Not when Yaradua and co are working round the clock to get Thief Bode George, a confirmed and convicted criminal released. It is only in the south east that peoples lives and welfare are subjected to dirty politics. Iyke Anaebuo, a Nigerian refugee in the UK, writes from London
i strongly believe that if that road and erosion was at northern nigeria it would have been repaired by now but see how umaru yaradua gave an non existing contract to south easthern nigeria.people that contributed alot in development of nigeria.its a wickedness that this level of marginalization is still going on against the south easthern nigeria.whatever nigeria is doing against this hardworking people must turn and became abundant blesses upon them by grace of GOD.we have no believe in yaradua he may be worst at end.
IF EROSION HAD BEEN A PROBLEM IN ANY NORTHERN STATE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TACKLED IMMEDIATELY. The South Eastern States have been under NIGERIAN SLAVERY since the War ended, almost 4 decades ago. EVERY DAMNED thing in Nigeria has been MOVED TO THE NORTH. Nigeria will NEVER rise above it's petiness, and will never progress, as long as it marginalises the South East and keeps them away from important leadership positions. 40 years of absense of MEANINGFULL PARTICIPATION in the CRUCIAL AFFAIRS of Nigeria TESTIFIES as to how Nigeria has fared in those 4 decades. As long as the North OWNS the Country, with left overs thrown to the Yoruba states when possible, Nigeria will NEVER move foward. AN ORDINARY GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY WITH NO LOVE OR PATRIOTISM DOES NOT A COUNTRY MAKE.