By Sunny Anderson Osiebe
The Deputy President of the
Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has unveiled plans to procure borehole drilling
equipment to address the problem of lack of portable water in Enugu West
Senatorial District.
Ekweremadu made this known when he
received delegations of Oduma Development Union, Abuja, and Oghe Social
Development Association, Abuja, who were on a thank-you visit to him at his
Abuja residence for the various development projects he attracted or personally
executed in their communities.
He noted that procuring and
stationing borehole drilling equipment, which would start work in Ezeagu LGA
was more cost effective, since government contracts for boreholes could not
adequately address the water needs of the communities.
He said: “I know that water is a
challenge, not only in Oghe community, but the whole of Ezeagu and we are
determined to deal with it in a sustainable way. We believe that it is going to
be difficult for government contracts to provide water for all the communities
in Ezeagu. So, what we plan to do is to procure drilling equipment that will be
coordinated by my constituency office, the local governments areas, and
communities to enable us develop sustainable boreholes in as many communities
as possible".
The Senator, however, cautioned
governments at every level to guide against the unrealistic presumption that
they adequately understood the needs of the people they serve, as such could
lead to faulty needs articulation.
He stressed: “I think the most
important thing in a democracy is to constantly engage the people, especially
at the grassroots. Sometimes, governments make the mistake of thinking that
they know the needs of the people they are serving. Unfortunately, most times
they know little, and misplace the needs and priorities of their people.
“The need for cottage hospital and
other projects in your communities came up during my interactions with you; and
by your presence here today, I believe that the projects addressed your needs rightly
and that you appreciate them”.
While extolling the Governor
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration in Enugu State for providing a conducive environment
for cooperation and multi-level government development effort to thrive,
Ekweremadu, also rued what he termed “missed opportunities of the recent past”.
He further explained: “You would
recall that we wanted to build a youth development centre in Ezeagu. We started
work and some people went out and destroyed what we were doing. Because of the
politics of the time, it was frustrated.
“We came to Ezeagu a few years ago
to provide health services to those with various eye problems, including those
in need of eye surgery. We brought world class medical professionals as usual,
but some people went to the medical outreach centre, beat them up, and chased
everybody away. However, I am sure you know that things have changed and the
present environment will enable us to do as much as we can for our people”.
Earlier, the President of Oghe
Social Development Association, Mr. Ken Ezekwu and the Chairman of Oduma
Development Union, Dr. Mbah Chukwubike, said the delegations came to express
their profound appreciation for the quality representation Ekweremadu had given
to Enugu West Senatorial Zone, the South East, and Nigeria in the
past 13 years.
Mr. Ezekwu expressed gratitude to
Senator Ekweremadu for heeding the request of Oghe community for a cottage
hospital at Amankwo Oghe, and pledged their unalloyed support towards the
achievement of the Deputy Senate President’s future political aspirations.
Dr. Mbah, on the other hand,
recalled that the Ikeoha Foundation, which Senator Ekweremadu established as
Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area in 1997, had changed the lives of many
down trodden and assisted indigent students in their academic pursuits.
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