By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Government has said that over 65 households affected by landslide at Ogwuma Edda in Afikpo South LGA shall be relocated to pave way for Federal Government intervention over the situation, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the request of the state government to assist in the reconstruction of the retaining walls of the Ogwuma section of the Ebunwana-Ekoli Edda Road affected by the landslide.
Governor Umahi made this known to newsmen while inspecting efforts made to clear the road already cut off as a result of the landslide which occured two weeks ago.
The governor while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate approval of the request for intervention, appealed for understanding by residents of the area to enable government handle the situation.
He observed that over sixty five households on the hillside along the retaining wall would be relocated to pave way for remedial work on the road.
“Let me thank our dear President very highly and I want the Edda people to thank him too. I did not even see him, I just wrote a letter to him while in Abuja and he immediately approved an intervention.
“What will happen is that we will get a place to resettle these people, we need to have a kind of small estate where these people will have to settle.
“Work will start immediately from Monday, we will know the houses that will be going and we will mark it, you will indicate where these people are going to be relocated and I want you people as Edda Community to help those people who will no longer stay here because when they stay here, not only that their lives will be at stake but also it will cause more slide. Slide is a very dangerous thing, it gulps a lot of money to remedy, let those who are staying near there be evacuated, we need to be our brother’s keepers. So I want to thank Mr. President very highly for the quick response.”
Governor Umahi directed the Chairman of the Council, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima to secure a new settlement for residents of the affected area for onward evacuation.
“65 houses must have to leave that place, there is nothing else we can do, landslide is a very dangerous thing and we have to save the life of our people. We will support you within the limit of our resources.”
Earlier, the Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima, appreciated the Governor and the Federal Government for their timely intervention and pledged to partner the Government to tackle the ecological challenge.
The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Ogbonnaya Obasi-Abara assured that residents of the area would be relocated as soon as possible to enable Government commence activities on the road.
Some residents of the area including Ezeogo Charles Azuenya, Ezeogo Dickson Okorie among others, lauded the Governor for coming to their aid and promised to comply with the directive of the State Government.
It would be recalled that the Ogwuma landslide occured few miles from the multi million Naira Iyere Edda Flyover at Afikpo South LGA.
