By Chinedu Omenma
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) Aba and Convenor of the Forum of Southeast Professors (FOSEP), Professor Victor Ukaogo has urged his Kinsmen from Ozuitem in Bende Local Government in Abia State to emulate other communities around them and appreciate the good works being done by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu for the community.
He was speaking to the press at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria Nsukka shortly after the morning session of the well attended international conference on Ethnicity and Nation Building where the former Minister of Power, Venerable-Prof. Nebo delivered the keynote lecture.
Asked to respond to news making the round in X(formerly Twitter) about his community – Ozuitem allegedly to have been neglected by the member representing Bende Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Prof Ukaogo cleared the air that the individual that posted the polluted stream as the only source of water to Ozuitem was most probably a stranger, not an indigene of the community. He wondered why nobody is holding the state government, local government or even the house of Assembly member representing Bende South constituency accountable for whatever observed deficit in the community.
But notwithstanding the hatchet mission of the X user, Prof Ukaogo informed that Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu had caused the drilling of two boreholes less than 200 meters from the stream shown on X, the second of which is ‘even an ongoing project. He queried strongly, ‘if the community is suffering from neglect, why would Hon Ben Kalu sink two boreholes less than 200 meters from the stream’? He continued ‘it’s true that our community was a symbol of neglect before now but at the moment, it has become a theatre of projects’, indeed ‘ a laboratory of infrastructural growth authenticating the reality of humanity in our representative ‘.
Providing evidence to the reporters, Prof. Ukaogo opened his phone to reveal a galaxy of ongoing and completed projects in Ozuitem. From the check, the Deputy Speaker is firmly on ground in the community where he has effectively intervened in primary and secondary schools by building or renovating classrooms while supplying seats for the students and pupils. From Ozuitem secondary school to Etiti-Ozu primary School where he built brand new three classrooms blocks each to Enemba primary School and Ozuitem central school where he renovated classrooms and provided seats, the representative is moving round doing well. And currently, two road constructions are ongoing namely the Agbua – Elugwumba- Uzuakoli road covering five and half kilometers as well as the two kilometer Obuofia-Elu la Agbo- Umuhu road.
Prof. Ukaogo volunteered that his people are very appreciative of the deputy speaker and his contribution to the community but advised strangers to desist from disparaging the most active parliamentarian east of the Niger. He reasoned that it is impossible to neglect a people and yet be accused of neglecting the same people. It clearly shows that some individuals merely take comfort in attacking performers like Enyi Abia as the deputy speaker is popularly called.
The professor of history and environmental politics at the University of Nigeria Nsukka further thanked the Deputy Speaker for his commitment to do more for Ozuitem and pledged the community’s unalloyed support in all his programs and endeavors.
Prof. Ukaogo who was the chairman of the local organizing committee for the international conference spoke and encouraged the students, staff, attendees and indeed all the conferees to think outside the box during the 3 day conference to provide solutions to Nigeria’s multiple challenges in nation building. Fielding questions with the former Minister of Power, Venerable-Prof Nebo, Prof Ukaogo agreed with the lead paper presenter that Nigeria can only get better as the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mature in the coming months.
