- Politicians only remember we exist during elections but treat us as dead people after winning – Residents
Residents of Ugba Egodori Amorji Nike community in Enugu State have narrated how several years of neglect by succeeding governments has left their lives miserable and retrogressive.
It was gathered that the founding fathers of the community came from Ebonyi State, Ezeagu and Isi-Uzo Local Government Areas of Enugu State before settling in the community about 57 years ago.
Residents said since they have been living in the community after the Biafran civil war in Nigeria, there has been no significant project or social amenity by any government.
The people of Ugba Edogori Amorji Nike who are into subsistence farming lamented that their community lacks basic social amenities such as portable water, health facilities, schools and good roads.
Findings by The Point revealed that most times when pregnant women from the community want to be delivered, they embark on long distance journeys to get health facilities in neighbouring towns.
It was also gathered that children have been falling ill due to the bad stream water the community members have been drinking, without a hospital to treat them.
Ngozi Anyamalu, one of the residents of the community said they only look up to God or patronise traditional birth attendants whenever any pregnant woman needs delivery.
“We don’t have food to eat in Ugba Edogori Amorji Nike,” Anyamalu lamented, saying there is no land they could use for cultivation.
A young man, Awu Chibueze who also lives in Ugba Edogori Amorji Nike narrated how he lost his sight to an eye disease which he could not explain.
Chibueze said, “I was into farming work before I developed eye problems. Had it been we have a hospital in our community, I would have got a cure for my eye defect.”
The physically impaired Chibueze has been struggling to feed himself since the demise of his wife.
The ordeals of Ejiofor Anslem, another resident of the community, is not different from Chibueze.
Owing to lack of efficient hospitals in the community, Ejiofor got physical disability after accessing medical care from a quack nurse in the community.
However, Ejiofor said he would not give up hope of becoming somebody in life despite his predicament.
The pathetic situation of the residents comes amid a yet to be fulfilled promise by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to construct 160 modern hospitals in the state.
In December, 2023, Mbah promised that his government would construct 260 modern hospitals across the state.
But, the leader of Ugba Edogori Amorji Nike community, Cyprain Obasi said politicians used to visit them during elections with lots of promises but regretted that they always forget them after winning elections.
“Government sees us as dead people,” he claimed, saying there is no school in and around the community that their children can attend, nor is there safe and clean water for them.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government said people from Ezza in Ebonyi have been living in the community illegally.
Commissioner for Information in Enugu State, Aka Eze Aka explained that those who work from one place to the other got settled in the community.
Aka confirmed that many people forget that people live in Ugba Egodori Amori Nike.
He, however, assured that the administration of Governor Mbah is prepared to facilitate development to some communities including the forsaken community.
Aka maintained that the people would start enjoying under the present government.
