By Ikenna ONUOHA, Mnipr
The disturbing flood menace in the city of Owerri, the Imo state capital is a problem yet to be solved.
This is after the state government claimed to have invested millions in the construction of an underground balloon to check mate and contain the flood.
Painfully, residents of Chukwuma Nwoha, Aladinma, Prefab and Housing Estate axis are devastated that they sleep with one eye closed especially, when there is a heavy down pour in the city.
The questions social Analysts are asking is whether there is a hidden secret the state government has not told its citizens. This is after the said underground balloon was commissioned by a top APC government functionary from Abuja last year.
While this article is not meant to attack government or any sector involved, but will serve as a probing pointer to whom it may concern if there is still a hidden truth yet to be aware by the citizens regarding the ill fated balloon project.
It is presently annoying and embarrassing too that the flood menace is not only witnessed around Chukwuma Nwoha, Aladinma, Prefab and Housing Estate axis, but a monster that has eaten deep into the fabrics of every adjoining routes and locations in Owerri, the state capital and the state at large.
From Orji, Mbieri road, down to Akwakuma, Amakohia, World bank area, to adjoining streets in Owerri town to Egbu road, through Douglas, Okigwe roads to Mbari and Bank road, close to Government House, amongst others, the pathetic and disturbing story has remained the same.
Given the background of the whole scenario, one wonders why virtually all the enclaving routes or locations in Owerri is submerged by the surging flood without both the previous and present government doing anything to remedy the situation.
Social Analysts or pundits had opined that most internal and external structures put in place by the administration of Dr Samuel Mbakwe for the purposes of controlling flood related issues in the state was either destroyed or catered away by successive governments.
This is to say the least that Imo state nay, Owerri that used to be the cleanest city in Nigeria with consecutive awards has become a laughing stock today.
A city rescued and retransformed by the likes of Barr Willie Amadi of Clean and Green Initiative has become the cynosure of negative imprint in the eyes of the world for reasons yet to be told.
It is remarkable to note that one of the cardinal objectives of any healthy and virile administration is to create good working and healthy environment for the citizens; but what is obtainable today, is indeed an irony of excellence.
Curious citizens are of the view that things have fallen apart; and the government has tried its highest best without tangible results. Another set of pundits posit that going by the muteness of the current government to the plight of its citizens, it seems that the whole situation has overwhelmed the APC administration, and therefore suggested the need for an urgent external assistance.
It is on the records that bad and unhealthy environment breeds and encourages both endemic and pandemic diseases. The solution to this imminent outbreak of disease in the state is a problem government should find immediate and final solution without further delay.
Construction of roads is good, building of infrastructures is good also, and dredging of Orashi river is absolutely in order, but rescuing residents from the current flood quagmire and endemic catastrophe is indeed, what the citizens are yearning for.
By so doing, we shall be expecting Imo of our collective dreams!
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