By Leonard Ajokubi
Describes Agwa Central Union as best thing that happened to the clan.
A well-known Agwa stakeholder and politician, Chief Chibunna Ifeanyichukwu Obilor Ubawuike, has condemned in strong terms the inability of the Oil Companies operating in Agwa, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State to provide development projects to the oil-rich clan, saying that they are yet to benefit from their years of exploration of crude oil in their land.
Chief Ubawuike, who expressed his feelings in an exclusive interview with the Peoples Hero recently, said that Agwa deserved a better treatment from the Oil Companies, as he mentioned the negative effects of their operation in the area.
His words, “The Oil Companies operating in Agwa have been agents of exploitation. We are yet to benefit anything from their years of exploration of crude oil from our land. There is no CSR project from them. No single infrastructural or human capital development project from them. Agwa is an agrarian clan and the food basket of Imo State; unfortunately environmental degradation and pollution occasioned by years of oil exploration and exploitation have taken their toll on our farm lands, causing it to be less-productive.
Stating the things the Oil Companies should do to improve the living standard of the people, the Community leader averred, “the Oil Companies operating in our land should be alive to their community responsibilities to avert the disruptive anger of our clan. Provision of good bituminous roads, electricity, well-equipped primary health facilities, employment of our skilled and unskilled youths, economic empowerment etc, are necessary antidotes to the impending “Amagaddom” A stitch in time, saves nine”.
Commending the activities and achievements of the Agwa Central Union (ACU) ably led by Barr. Benson Akunya, he said “Agwa Central Union (ACU), under the able leadership of Barr. Benson Akunya, is the best thing that has happened to Agwa, though a work in progress, we have never had it so good. ACU has provided effective and efficacious leadership within the short period of its existence. It has touched and changed the composite developmental narrative and trajectory of Agwa. I humbly impore my fellow Ndi-Agwa to give the ACU unalloyed support to enable them restore Agwa nation to its pride of place and make it a bastion of greatness in the comity of nations.
On the political situation in Agwa, the Political Scientist averred, “our experience since the advent of the democratic dispersion from 1999 till 2019, has been a bit fair. We have had our people in elective and appointive positions within the above-mentioned periods.
“Unfortunately, it has not been so since the coming of the Sshared Prosperity Administration of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma. However, the above scenario is positively being looked into by the 3R Government and very soon, we shall witness glaring positive changes”
Continuing, he said, “Agwa clan is the most populous with largest voting population in Oguta Local Government Area, three INEC Electoral wards and six Autonomous Communities. We deserve ‘political accolades’ in terms of adequate representation and presence in Imo State government. Like I said earlier, we have made concerted representation to our Governor and positive changes are imminent”.
