Ogbunike Declining Fortunes In Oyi LGA, Anambra State

COMR CHUMA-ODILI HARRIS, Ph.D 

Ogbunike is one of the most industrialized towns in Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, but has always been very unfortunate, just like Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area had been treated badly by successive governments. Presently, we are being ruled by unfortunate, insensitive and clueless Caretaker Committee. Oyi LGA is truly a failed Local Government Council, and deeply rooted in shambles without any possible form of redemption. 

Even with all the revenues and excess fund spill they receive from Federal Government constantly, the administrators just embezzle everything. All the Caretaker Committee does is steal the little crumps left for them and embark on cosmetic insignificant projects. 

The issue of decrepit roads across the communities and towns in Oyi is an intractable challenge of which solution doesn’t seem to be in sight. Oyi LGA have some of the worst roads in Anambra State and the Council area makes the most money outside Onitsha, and Nnewi.

It might interest you to know that Ogbunike hosts five commercial banks, the biggest building materials markets, the largest food, beverage and cosmetic markets, the largest abattoir, the largest mechanic village, the most attractive tourism site, the massive industrial estate, the abandoned, underdeveloped Ogbunike Cave. One keeps wondering why the hometown of most past and present leaders like the former Senate President Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Senator Dr. Edwin Onwudiwe, former Deputy Governor, Dr. Chudi Nwike, the Nigeria Immigration Service former Comptroller General Uzoamaka Ubah, and presently, the Anambra First Lady, Dr. Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme), is nothing to write home about. 

Honestly, Ogbunike is the worst in terms of infrastructural developments. How can an important town like Ogbunike not boast of a kilometer of good road and clean washed streets, despite our enviable position as the economic capital of Oyi Local Government Area? It is such a shame! Even in the 21st century, we are still celebrating an environment that looks like the colonial era. 

Leadership failure is the reason many things have gone wrong. Take a trip to Azu, Ogbunike, the roads leading to Building Materials Bus Stop and Eke Market can cause miscarriage to a pregnant passenger. Sadly, many deaths have been recorded on these bad roads, accidents involving commercial motorcyclists and motorists. Not long ago, a motorcyclist ran into a deep pothole and got his brains shattered on the rough ground. 

Unfortunately, it would be ignorant reasoning to blame Local Government administrators for poor roads leaving the State Government out of it. Gov. Obiano’s Local governments architecture is not functioning in Anambra, there’s a lot of lacuna. It is shameful in the extreme that our political leaders have failed to pay attention to the plights of the people. The Local Governments cannot be effective until the Governor accents to LGA autonomy. There is need for a paradigm shift, especially, in the style of governance; for that would be the magnet that would attract dividends of democracy to the governed.

Ekenem!