Abia communities jubiliate as lawmaker ends years of water shortage
Th
ere was jubilation in Ndiokereke and Ndi Oji, Abam autonomous communities in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. Their joy knew no bounds as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uko Nkole ended their years of agony over non-availability of potable water. STEVE OKO, in Umuahia, reports.
ere was jubilation in Ndiokereke and Ndi Oji, Abam autonomous communities in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. Their joy knew no bounds as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uko Nkole ended their years of agony over non-availability of potable water. STEVE OKO, in Umuahia, reports.There was joy in the affected communities as the member representing the Ohafia- Arochukwu federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Uko Nkole commissioned his water projects in the area, thus, ending their plights over lack of potable water.
Both communities have not had access to any potable water since inception except their local streams which have also been exposed to all manner of pollutions , thus , posing a health challenge to the folks. Absence of safe drinking water in the communities resulted to an outbreak of cholera in the area in 2012 which claimed some lives.
Moved by the agonizing experiences of the villagers over water scarcity during his campaign, Hon. Nkole gave them a firm promise that should he be elected into power, he would ensure they have access to clean water within his first year in office.
Nkole flagged off a water bore hole project in the community shortly after he was sworn in as a federal lawmaker.
The projects were delivered on time as the water bore hole was commissioned penultimate week.
The excited villagers did not hide their joy as, for the first time in their lifetime, the challenge of not having access to potable water was put to rest “ This gesture has put to an end the long years of suffering and trekking long distance to streams in search of water”, Mazi Okereke Abam , one of the excited villagers declared during the commissioning.
“We are very happy. This is the first time the community is benefitting from such gesture. At last we can boast of having access to good water”, he added.
He rained blessings on the lawmaker and urged him not to relent in his humanitarian gestures, while assuring that they will protect the project against vandalism.
The lawmaker also commissioned a water project he resuscitated at Ekelogo community in Ohafia Local Government Area.
The faces of the excited locals especially children who were jostling to fetch water from the borehole beamed with joy.
They said the gesture had ended the era of buying water from vendors who sell water to them at cut- throat price.
The villagers poured encomiums on the lawmaker for coming to their rescue, and wished him well.
According to one of them who simply identified himself as the Youth Leader, they complained to the lawmaker during an interactive forum about their urgent water need “ and he quickly released funds for the resuscitation of our water project”.
The lawmaker has also embarked on the building of five classroom block at Amankwu School,
Ohafia. Pupils in the school have been studying under the tree due to lack of classrooms as the few available ones are dilapidating.
Addressing newsmen after the event, Nkole said he owed his people the duty of changing their lots for the better, saying that he was elected to bring succor and democracy dividends to them. He said that the projects were being bankrolled with his allowances , adding that it gives him joy to add value to lives.