NEGLECT UNPRECEDENTED: THE CASE OF IBIANANG AND EDEM IYERE COMMUNITIES IN IKONO LGA, AKS.
NEGLECT UNPRECEDENTED: THE CASE OF IBIANANG AND EDEM IYERE COMMUNITIES IN IKONO LGA, AKS.
Edet John
(07085733806)
The Old Itu road which is a major road connecting Ikono LGA to Ibiono Ibom and Ikot Ekpene LGAs has been in a state of disrepair for over 16 years and counting. This has stalled social, cultural and economic activities amongst the affected communities in Ikono LGA and Ibiono Ibom LGA by extension. Recall that the popular Naira Market (Urua Naira) serves the people of Edem Iyere, Ibianang, Ibiono Ibom and its environs as the only ready traditional market place were these rural dwellers exchanged their commodities and wares for a consideration. Unfortunately, these people, even after making their commodities readily available for sale, do not have the means to transport same to the market place as the only access road to the market is the abandoned, dilapidated Old Itu Road which at best could be described as a death trap.
Also recall that at several fora, the people of mostly these two affected communities (Ibianang and Edem Iyere) has been crying out calling on government at all levels to come to their aid. Their cries was partially heard when on February 2018, the Honourable Vice Chairman of Ikono Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Idotenyin Etokobong visited the scene which coindentally is the only bridge along the road and had an on-the-spot assessment of the quality of life his people are subjected to, promising to take the message to the appropriate quarters.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the affected communities has recorded lost of innocent lives and their properties in the course of trying to manoeuvre their ways either into or out of their communities in search of greener pasture but sadly met their end. Not because of their carelessness but because of gross neglect from the government that is suppose to protect their lives and properties.
Sadly though, amidst the government insensitivity to the plight of these community dwellers and their gross neglect, representatives from agencies of government are dubiously defrauding the dwellers by imposing on them taxes and levies with no commensurate infrastructure to show for these taxes.
Recall that Old Itu Road is a popular trunk A road in Akwa Ibom State having its beginning from Control Post in Ikot Ekpene LGA and its end at Ibiaku in Ibiono Ibom LGA with the largest landmass in Ikono LGA. It was, before the creation of other routes, the only access road from Ikot Ekpene to Calabar; the then Cross River State capital.
It was George Bush who said that "... it is the duty of the government to invest in infrastructure development and rebuilding communities in other to create jobs for her citizenry..."
I therefore call on our representatives at all levels and men of goodwill alike whose voices the government will listen to and come to our aid to rise to this ugly situation bedeviling us as a people.
Thank you.
Concerned Indigene of Ibianang
Edet John
(07085733806)
The Old Itu road which is a major road connecting Ikono LGA to Ibiono Ibom and Ikot Ekpene LGAs has been in a state of disrepair for over 16 years and counting. This has stalled social, cultural and economic activities amongst the affected communities in Ikono LGA and Ibiono Ibom LGA by extension. Recall that the popular Naira Market (Urua Naira) serves the people of Edem Iyere, Ibianang, Ibiono Ibom and its environs as the only ready traditional market place were these rural dwellers exchanged their commodities and wares for a consideration. Unfortunately, these people, even after making their commodities readily available for sale, do not have the means to transport same to the market place as the only access road to the market is the abandoned, dilapidated Old Itu Road which at best could be described as a death trap.
Also recall that at several fora, the people of mostly these two affected communities (Ibianang and Edem Iyere) has been crying out calling on government at all levels to come to their aid. Their cries was partially heard when on February 2018, the Honourable Vice Chairman of Ikono Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Idotenyin Etokobong visited the scene which coindentally is the only bridge along the road and had an on-the-spot assessment of the quality of life his people are subjected to, promising to take the message to the appropriate quarters.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the affected communities has recorded lost of innocent lives and their properties in the course of trying to manoeuvre their ways either into or out of their communities in search of greener pasture but sadly met their end. Not because of their carelessness but because of gross neglect from the government that is suppose to protect their lives and properties.
Sadly though, amidst the government insensitivity to the plight of these community dwellers and their gross neglect, representatives from agencies of government are dubiously defrauding the dwellers by imposing on them taxes and levies with no commensurate infrastructure to show for these taxes.
Recall that Old Itu Road is a popular trunk A road in Akwa Ibom State having its beginning from Control Post in Ikot Ekpene LGA and its end at Ibiaku in Ibiono Ibom LGA with the largest landmass in Ikono LGA. It was, before the creation of other routes, the only access road from Ikot Ekpene to Calabar; the then Cross River State capital.
It was George Bush who said that "... it is the duty of the government to invest in infrastructure development and rebuilding communities in other to create jobs for her citizenry..."
I therefore call on our representatives at all levels and men of goodwill alike whose voices the government will listen to and come to our aid to rise to this ugly situation bedeviling us as a people.
Thank you.
Concerned Indigene of Ibianang
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