The candidate of the office of President General in Enugwu-Ukwu Community, Mr Henry Okafor, has said that poor environmental behavior of the citizens was the reason behind developmental challenges in the town.
Okafor who is one of the candidates to the President- General elections of the community on September 24 said that people has treated their environment with less care and interest by indiscriminate dump of dirt’s within the community.
He said this during an interview with newsmen who covered a private paid environmental clean up on Friday in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of the State.
Okafor said that a citizen of the community based in Abroad has taken it upon himself to engage some youths to clear up the dump sites and drainage within some parts of the community to ensure a clean environment for his people.
He commended the efforts of Mr Benjamin Emoka for his public spirited heart to support the well being of the people even when he was not based in the community.
Okafor urged other citizens based at home and abroad to emulate the footsteps of Emoka to think home on how to join in the development of the community.
He said that such commitment by citizens of the community would contribute to its artistic culture of environmental friendliness.
Okafor suggested that tree planting and constant clean up of drainages and right attitude of waste disposal would place the town on high level of community to be respected in the zone.
“Development of ones community cannot be the function of the government alone, the people need to take ownership of their community through quality participation in developmental projects of its community.
“There are certain expectations demanded of the people to do to support government to achieve growth and wellbeing of its people such as environmental protection exercises which is key to checkmate the erosion challenges and diseases, “he said.
Okafor said that only quality leadership at the grass root level would fast track the achievement of a healthy environment and inculcate a right attitude on people to respect and have value for their environment.
He said that small levy of N500 could be asked of the people to contribute for the handling of community environmental cleanliness to build all inclusive administration where all the people will take ownership of their community and actively participate in any developmental Projects.
He said that with trusted administrative leadership who are transparent, service oriented and accountable to the people sound growth would be recorded in the community.
Okafor said that in a community there are two leadership those incharge of custodian of the community culture values and traditions and those incharge of administrative work of the community's which is the office of the President General of the the community.
He urged the eligible delegates for the election to vote wisely so as to enthrone separation of power that will build up growth and development of the community to another enviable level.
He said a fearless leader would bring into action the desires of the people both the weakthy,the rich,the middle and the poor will have say in affairs of their community.
Okafor said there are urgent need to enthrone leadership that has vision and mission with four cardinal points of restoration of peace ,justice equity to many troubled kindred’s, security.skilks amongst others.
Mr Emmanuel Nwoye , a youth who was contracted by Emoka to ensure that grasses and drainages are kept clean from some point of the community to another said the job was tasking but they were happy to do it.
Nwoye said that Emoka had volunteered to finance the clean up exercise after he had posted the bushy areas of their village Avomimi and nearby villages to him and how flood had wrecked their area.
Nwoye said that Emoka was touched and asked him to engage some youths that will be ready to work till the area get permanent intervention either from town union or the government.
"He promised to bankrolled the work till permanment intervention arrives.
“Over three months we have been engaged to ensure that grasses are kept undergrowth, drainages are cleared and that waste are disposed at designated dump site,we take turns to check and direct people to dispose their waste right,"he said.
Nwoye said that they work to ensure free flow of rain water down into water channel’s this rainy season just to help checknate gullies caused by rain water
Mrs Grace Anagor , the Vice President of Aboatulu Kindred meeting,Avomimi village commended Emoka for creating jobs for the youths through the community service he has encouraged the youths to do.
Anagor a pretty trader said that more wealthy people in the community should follow the progressive steps of their brother Emoka to engage more youths in community service.
She said that act where stipend would be paid to them would checkmate youth restiveness in the area and that safety will achieved by such gesture.
Mr Christian Mbachi, a native and Secretary of Aboatulu kindred meeting nen's wing said that the idea of private individuals sponsoring youths on community service is a welcome development and call for more of such sponsorship in areas of security.
Mbachi said that more hands were needed to encourage youths to go into skill acquisitions and educational prowess as all these kind gesture would limit security challenges in rural areas and promote development in such communities.
Our correspondent reports that Enugwu-Ukwu community would elect its town union leaders that would run the affairs of the community for the next three years or so.
Some contenders are Chief Patrick Nworji for President, a retired Union Bank staff and ICT guru Mr Mike Okonkwo who seeks for the post of Secretary General,others for same
secretary position are Asikason Okechukwu, Chinedu Nnatu while other post seems not to be in competitive line.