Nation
Eze Oriaku sends SOS to ASEPA over poor disposal system in Umudike estate
A traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Eze Ben Oriaku, Dike the 1st of Umudike Ukwu Autonomous Community, Abia State, has sent a Save-Our-Soul message to the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, (ASEPA), to assist inhabitants of World Bank Estate, PIU, Umudike, following poor disposal system in the area.
The Royal Father, who spoke to Business Hallmark on Sunday, acknowledged the efforts of Governor Alex Otti at improving the environmental cleanliness of Abia State, but decried that World Bank Estate, Umudike, was yet to be at par with other places in the state in terms of environmental cleanliness.
He said the Estate was in deficit of ASEPA Buckets, revealing that the few drainages in the estate are completely blocked which leads to heavy flooding when it rains heavily, stating that many people are not aware of the existence of the Estate.
Eze Oriaku said, “There is paucity of Drainages in the Estate. It’s just like an oversight I must say. Most people are not even aware of the existence of the Estate. This is an opportunity to remind the state and public that there is an estate in Umudike that needs attention”.
He also emphasized the lack of access roads in the Estate, revealing that it is very difficult to access an Estate that houses 1,000 to 2,000 students Living within the area.
“This Estate is mapped out for hostels. And you know they pass out waste. Again, there is not enough access roads. The roads are not connected. Something really has to be done to open up the area. And I know, it is only a visionary leader like Governor Alex Otti that can make it happen”.
Reacting to stories on social media that the Government of Abia State has gagged Traditional Rulers in the State, Eze Oriaku said such does not exist.
He said what the Government of Governor Alex Otti did was to upgrade the traditional institution, rebranding it to align with the New Abia.
“Before now, we were given peanuts as salaries which did not also come as and when due. But today, we receive salaries that are befitting, we no longer receive peanuts.
Eze Oriaku reiterated that no one is gagging traditional rulers in Abia State, insisting that what happened is that the Government gave an orientation on how traditional rulers should behave in the New Abia.
He said, “At least I’m here and I’m free. Nobody is gagging me. We were taught to know that people are looking up to us.This is not supposed to be partisanship. It’s not all functions that we should attend as traditional rulers.
“Why should our long throat be dragging us from one gathering to the other? We are reducing the standard of our office, and that of the government. And that is why the Government thought of upgrading us, so that we will guide ourselves. We were taught that it’s absurdity to see a traditional ruler on Okada. There could be breakdown on the road. There could be challenges. But the situation where you dress in your regalia, enter bike, in the New Abia, is not wise.
“These were the things we were taught. You will see Onyeze eat publicly anyhow. Onyeze will attend a function dressed in English attire. It does not go well. So these rules are the lessons we were taught.
“It’s just to upgrade us, to package us. Revitalizing traditional leadership in the new Abia. New Abia cannot be floating and we will be going negatively. It’s also to upgrade our standard for our own good and this is what we have been advocating,” Eze Oriaku concluded.
