OHAFIA; AN INDEPENDENT PEOPLE. I dont feel shy whenever am referred to as a village boy, maybe because i learn alot in the village. I enjoyed tales by moonlight with friends and was opportune to sit side by side with elders. I am from Ohafia.Ohafia, a local govt in Abia state is made up of 26 villages. One of the side by side discussions with my grand father afforded me an opportunity of knowing alot about age grade system in Ohafia. Age grade system is a system whereby people who are of same age bracket cluster and function together to better the lots of the entire community in one way or the other. It provides basic foundation by which individuals are integrated to make collective and meaningful contributions that would be directed to a holistic development of the community. It is an agent of social change and is embedded in the peoples resolve and willingness to embark on self-help projects that will help to raise the standard of living in the community. Pointing to some of the self-help projects, we have Amaekpu tower,sub-treasury, library, post office, hospitals,schools,halls,roads etc. These projects are handed over to the government for commissioning and utilization. Except the road that connects us to Arochukwu and the renovation of Goodluck Jonathans barracks. There have not been any major project undertaken and commissioned by any govt in Ohafia. Does it mean we dont have representatives? The member representing Oha/Aro fed constituency, Hon. Arua Arunsi is only seen on television but not heard. He is likened to Hon. Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa whose cars siren was a constant nuisance. Atleast i know him for one thing but no project carries his name. Hon. Kalu Igu made little impacts no doubt, during his tenure, Army barracks was renovated,classroom blocks were built at Nkporo and other villages, Ohafia girls secondary school was renovated and classrooms built, free health care projects, purchase of transformers to all the villages, street light etc. Am not trying to justify the neglect of some core areas like youth empowerment but his tenure was short-lived by court cases, maybe he wouldve done more. Hon. Mba ukaha, is the most unpopular of all the elected officers. His position as the member representing Ohafia south at the state assembly is rather not known because he has no project to show. He claimed to have paid bursary to some students with no prove, maybe to his brothers , we rather classify it as a brother-brother relationship. I remember he has an edifice at a strategic position at Asaga, no wonder no money remained for a project that we so deserved in Ohafia. Senator Uche chukwumerije is busy in the house singing a Biafran Anthem. He is a powerful senator whose presence and words cannot be ignored at the floor of the house. He has moved alot of motions and is ranked one of the most eloquent. I remember he was among those that stopped the third term bid of Obasanjo, he also moved the motion for the immotalization of Ojukwu amongst others but he has no corresponding legacy at home. He is more theoretical than practical which to a large extent makes no meaning as far as it does not commensurate with his achievements in undertaking projects. I rate the only seen-and- never-heard Arua Arunsi ahead of him, atleast we sometimes hear his car siren but our dear senator has not visited Ohafia in recent years and we are as people without representation. The govt of Ochendo is doing more harm than good as our roads especially NMORI BRIDGE that connects us to Abam is now a death trap.we have not felt his impact in Ohafia except his magnanimous gifts of keke napep and motorcycles to youths in the name of youth empowerment. My inquisitiveness has led me to ask.. 1. Why are we so backward, whereas we participate fully in elections? 2. Why cant the govt fix Nmori bridge amongst other projects, atleast to save lives? 3. Must we leave the development of Ohafia to old men and women in the name of age grade? 4. Why are we so independent, whereas we have a govt that is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of this projects instead of tasking this old men to contribute? 5. Why cant our elders and stakeholders look into this matter than keeping quiet, are they also in support of the neglect? 6. Why are we always hoodwink to believe on non-existing projects, why do we always read in the pages of newspapers about govt developmental strides in Ohafia without any prove or evidence and yet no one dare to talk? Things have fallen Apart, i rather speak out. God bless Ohafia. Read also my note on my wall on patriotism; A word that defeats its meaning, and Unemployment; the way forward
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:32:25 +0000
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