It is very painful to us that after lives were lost at that bridge, it has collapsed and more than 20 communities in Ogbaru who use the bridge, are trapped now, it is a terrible devastating situation for Ogbaru people, it is an existential emergency that needs immediate attention without further delay.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The traditional ruler of Ossomala community in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Okakwu Victor Awogu, has urged the Federal Government and Governor Charles Soludo-led state government to treat the reconstruction of the bridge linking the community to the other parts of the state as a top priority.
He called on the Federal Government to assure the state government that it will reimburse the state with all expenses incurred in rebuilding the Onukwu bridge to enable it commit state resources to the project which he described as an emergency.
The bridge located in Ossomala last week broke off due to the impact of a devastating flood that destroyed several properties, claimed lives and displaced many people in Ogbaru Local Government Area and its environs.
According to him, the repair of the bridge will alleviate the sufferings of about 20 communities in Ogbaru which have been undergoing pains because of the effect of the flood in the area.
With the collapse of the bridge, towns like Ossomala, Mputu, Obeagwe, Akili-Ozizor, Ogwu-Aniocha and Ogwu-Ikpele, where the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema, hails from, are now totally cut off from the rest of Ogbaru communities the state and the South East in general.
The Monarch said: “Anambra State government need to enter into an agreement with the Federal Government for the immediate reconstruction of the bridge, with a view to getting a refund of the money spent for its reconstruction.
“The greatest problem the entire Ogbaru people are facing now is the collapse of that bridge which is the only link Ogbaru council area has with other parts of the state, South East and Rivers State.
“You know that bridge is on Federal road, the only road that connects Ogbaru council area with the rest of Anambra communities, South East and Rivers State, we are in deep pain. Onukwu bridge is the same place the boat mishap that killed people last week, with scores sustaining various degrees of injuries, happened.
“The collapse of that bridge is the greatest devastation Ogbaru people have witnessed in recent times. It is the greatest existential emergency facing the Ogbaru people now. It is a horrible thing that has happened to Ogbaru people.
“That bridge is a centre of Ogbaru, it links almost all the towns in Ogbaru. We are completely cut off from ourselves and the entire people of Anambra State and South East and Rivers State.
“It is very painful to us that after lives were lost at that bridge, it has collapsed and more than 20 communities in Ogbaru who use the bridge, are trapped now, it is a terrible devastating situation for Ogbaru people, it is an existential emergency that needs immediate attention without further delay.
“Beyond that bridge is where the oil that is giving the state the status of oil-producing state. That Anambra State is getting 13 percent derivation fund for oil-producing state, is that bridge that links the three major communities of Ossoamala, Ogwuaniocha and Ogwuikpeke, where oil is being tapped now, and other oil communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area. So that bridge calls for an emergency now. Its reconstruction should commence immediately.”