1 month ago
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The deputy governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, has charged members of Azumiri community in Ukwa to desist from being a hindrance to the ongoing road construction in their community.
Emetu made this statement in his office in the Government House while addressing some delegates from the Azumiri community on their attitude towards a road construction project by the Akwa Ibom State government.
He expressed his dismay at the fact that having previously had a meeting with some delegates of Apumiri trying to allay their fears of the annexation of a part of Azumiri into Akwa Ibom, they still continued to act as a hindrance to the road construction.
He said, “Abia State government had a discussion with the Akwa Ibom State government on the road construction and that the construction company has no plan of annexing any part of Abia State.
“It is the boundary council that must annex an area.”
He further explained that the Akwa Ibom State government have been so generous to fix that road because their neighbouring local government in Abia State is not accessible due to bad roads.
Emetu further noted that 90 per cent of the roads the present government met were not accessible and that they are making serious effort to fix them, hence any opportunity that comes on a platter of gold is embraced.
He informed them that the Abia State government will deploy men and operatives of ‘Operation Crush’ to Azumiri to make sure that the project sees the light of day, reminding them that the Akwa Ibom State government has agreed to pay compensation to any person whose land or crops were destroyed in the cause of the road construction.
One of the delegates from Azumiri, Barrister Fidelis Nnah, while reacting to the deputy governor’s speech noted that they were gratified that the deputy governor gave them an audience and also gave a detailed explanation of Abia State government’s stand on the road construction by Akwa Ibom State.
He pointed out that Azumiri as a community has never kicked against it, but rather they wanted to be sure that there is a written agreement between Abia State and Akwa Ibom State on the road project to avoid future boundary issues.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Commander Macdonald Ubah (rtd), assured the delegates from the Azumiri community that the government of Abia State cannot allow another state to take from them what is rightfully theirs.
He encouraged them to cooperate with the company so that the road construction would be properly done.
