POLITICS: Anambra community protests government’s neglect

Current news update as the youths of Ogbunike community in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State yesterday marched on the streets to protest their alleged neglect by the government.

Base on report gathered according to them, the Wille Obiano-led government had neglected their basic needs, failed to fulfil its electoral promises and played the politics of exclusion.

It is reported that the protesters, under the auspices of United Ogbunike Youths Association, marched through Oye Olisa Market junction and the Awka Old road, before receding to the
Ogbunike Town Hall, chanting protest songs.

The chairman, Board of Trustees, Chibuzor Unachukwu said the protest became necessary because the Obiano-led administration had reneged on all the promises it made to the community, though his wife is an Ogbunike daughter.

He presented an eight-point communique by the aggrieved youths, noting that the first project ever inaugurated in Ogbunike since the inception of the present administration was a toilet facility which, according to him, was sponsored by an oil mogul from Ukpo community, Dunukofia Local Government.

Unachukwu regretted that after working for Obiano’s success and visiting him, the governor promised the urbanidation of Ogbunike community but they are filled with regret today that all the promises had not been fulfilled.

But Obiano’s media aide Emeka Ozumba, in a statement yesterday, said there were fears that some opposition elements may have infiltrated the peaceful town of Ogbunike to instigate youths to stage the protest.

Ozumba said the allegations had no relationship with the truth, and were obviously orchestrated to mislead and incite unsuspecting residents against Mrs. Obiano.

The statement reads: “The wife of the governor has neither a statutory role nor financial allocation from the government. Her role as the governor’s wife has no executive powers to it. “However, to support her husband’s programmes, she set up an NGO, under whose auspices she does charitable programmes and projects, including the popular CAFÉ Housing Programme for indigent widows.”

Ozumba said the government had executed several projects, including roads in Ogbunike, which the monarch, Igwe John Umenyiriora, even attested to.