Development for the Grassroots

Benjamin Nworie writes on the efforts of the member representing Ishileu/Ezza North Constituency, Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu, in restoring electricity and other social needs of his constituency

One of the policy thrusts and cardinal points of the member representing Ishileu/Ezza North Constituency, Ebonyi State in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu, is to create a forum where indigenes of Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency would come together and be informed on issues that concern them.

A forum where his constituency would be counted as the major beneficiary of the democratic dividends in the society, a forum where he would be measured by the number of unemployed youths that received succour for dream actualisation, a forum where youths restiveness occasioned by unemployment would have been solved and nipped in the bud through massive employment opportunities.

Nwonu’s home coming was full of promises kept and vision actualised. The restoration of the electricity project that was vandalised in Ezza North Local Government would still remain a litmus test of the lawmaker’s determination to appreciate his electorate unquantifiably and lift up their standard of living admirably.

It was a day of reckoning for the people and residents of Ekka, Umuezeoka and Umuezeokoha communities in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as they heaved a sigh of relief following the restoration of electricity to their area. The people were in total bondage, yet past administration of Chief Martin Elechi, as governor, allegedly neglected the area with so much disdain, as if they were not part of Ebonyi State.

Apart from electricity, the people of Ezza North were marginalised and counted out of the scheme of things in the past administration that they lacked the basic necessities of life. The people cannot boast of good roads, water, hospital. Sometimes, when roads linking the community were awarded, they were usually abandoned the moment they reached the community. The rate and statistics of unemployed graduates are also high in Ezza North. The people were stigmatised for unknown cause.

For the past six years, these communities that rarely witness blackout for two or three hours daily groaned in darkness due to the power outage. This condition, however, strangulated economic activities to a halt while some people used the opportunity to set up menial job for upkeep, such as cell phone battery charging business.

The vandalisation of the transformers has further compounded the plight of the people. Business operators relocated in droves. Economic activities were paralysed. Some business operators in the area including Mr. Boniface Aloh, Emmanuel Nweke and Mrs. Martha Nworie said the absence of electricity in the area for the past six years has adversely affected their business.

They regretted a situation whereby they spent an average of five thousand naira daily for fuel just to power their generators, at this harsh economic situation. They noted that absence of electricity in the area had brought untold hardship and difficulties for perishable goods sellers.

The chairman, Onueke Electricity Consumers, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogodo, said the town has remained without electricity for some years now following the bad condition of the three electricity transformers that service the town. Another trader at Eke Imoha Market, Mr. Linus Edeigbo said some business owners in the area have relocated to neighboring communities owing to lack of electricity.

This condition, they said had brought domestic accidents in some homes, as a result of fumes from generating sets. In some places, these fumes from generators have killed over 20 people, just in a bid to safeguard the sets from criminals.

The traditional ruler of Ekka Community, Ezeogo Fidelis Ekechi, said they looked like people in the dark ages because they don’t have access to any telecommunication technologies to keep them abreast with the events in the state. The monarch noted that the intervention was apt and urgent following the high cost of fuel to be used in generating sets. Ezeogo Ekechi assured of the readiness of the youths and stakeholders of the community to protect the new transformers from activities of vandals.

The plights of the people made it more herculean and challenging during the last general election for the people to think inwards and put their destinies in their own hands. Either to remain in their abject poverty and excruciating pains of social deprivation and marginalisation or use their ballot papers to upturn their fortunes and have a new breath of life.

There begins a search of a man with good heart of compassion that they feel understands the various need of the communities in the constituency and has enough and will to do everything about it from both his personal resources and from their collective till if given the opportunity. A man with good hands and who is disposed to put them to good uses.

After a long look ahead, a searching look inwards, a wide look around and a far look upwards, the cast fell on a young promising industrialist and philanthropist, Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu. Nwonu won admirably to represent the people of Ishielu/Ezza North in the Federal House of Representative. Since he assumed office, he has lived above bar in bringing democratic dividends to his constituency in line with his campaign promises.

His giant strides are not surprising to many, as the lawmaker has been known as a rallying figure in humanitarian services. Born in 1975, Nwonu was a former Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson on Non-Indigenes Affairs before he resigned to contest the 2015 House of Representative election in Ebonyi State. Nwonu has touched many lives as the Managing Director of Anatex Multi-lines Ltd.

To enhance the standard of living of his people, the lawmaker tackled the perennial electricity problem in the area. He donated and installed two transformers to service the area. The uncommon gesture attracted commendation from the people. The people were full praises to the present administration in the
state.

According to Nwonu, “your pain is mine; your joy is equal mine. That is the simple reason why I have embarked on every project that affects your mood positively. Rehabilitation of Onunwitecha Road leading from Onueke to Ekka, Ogboji, Inyere, Nkomoro etc communities in Ezza North L. G. A.”

Another milestone was the reinvigoration of the cultural potentials of the Ezza Nation. Ezza nation is a culturally rich nationality in Ebonyi State. Before the emergence of the Lawmaker, it thus appeared that the famous and prestigious “Mgba Ekka Festival’ was gradually tilting to extinction. The festival is always a look-up festival where youths test their strength through wrestling matches. The festival symbolises journey to adulthood and maturation of age grades.

It is a big festival that attracts people from all walks of life to witness the interesting show of strength. The lawmaker has kept fate with the cultural demand of his people by organising annual wrestling festival. The import of the festival cannot be overemphasised. It fosters peace and unity among the various communities. Participants went home with lots of gift items including brand new motorcycles.

“We must keep promoting our culture until it attracts sufficient tourists and turn around our economic fortune. We are very mindful of all our campaign promises to all groups and individuals in Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State and with time we shall fulfill all of them by the grace of the Almighty God. We delivered over 40 motorcycles to all our ward coordinators and some supporters who deployed their motorcycles to campaigning for us when we needed them most. We are indebted to you too and we shall soon pay. Keep faith with us and keep praying for more opportunities until we get to your own door step,” Nwonu said.

The lawmaker therefore pleaded with his constituency to remain loyal to the administration of Governor David Umahi as he works tirelessly to
ensure that peace and unity returns to Ezillo. He admonished the
people to see the events of the past in Ezzillo as manipulation of the
devil to cause war between the peace loving communities, assuring that he would do everything possible to bring succour to the people. He
further commended Governor Umahi for his kindheartedness in stepping so strong and passionately to resolving the unfortunate dispute in Ezillo, assuring that he would continue to support his lofty
initiatives in making Ebonyi great.