The people of Agu-Umabor, Eha-Alumonah, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to Governor Peter Mbah over the worsening condition of the only access road in the area.
Our correspondent recalls that the community had in the past repeatedly drawn the attention of the government to the devastating gully erosion on the road.
However, no form of relief has come to the community, prompting this latest outcry.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, signed by the president of Agu Umabor Elites Group, Mr Abonyi Gilbert Emeka, he pleaded with the Enugu State and the Nsukka Local Governments to initiate immediate remedial work on the road.
Abonyi, who spoke after the group had a tour of the road, said it had become impassable.
He said, “this SOS became very imperative as the condition of the road has worsened to such a level that our people are on the verge of being cut-off completely from the rest of the state.
“This is the only access road that connects our people to the rest of the state. We are an agrarian community, producing food items in commercial quantities, but the road network has remained a major inhibition.
“We are, therefore, making this appeal again to the Enugu State government, as well as the Nsukka local government area. They should save our people from this distress.”
He further lamented that criminal elements were exploiting the bad nature of the road to wreak havoc in the area, stressing “this is why an urgent attention is needed as the road gets worse by the day.
“We are appealing that the government should come to our aid through an intervention fund in order to save us from agony.”
Similarly, an indigene of the area, who is also a member of the group, Mr Ugwuanyi Collins lamented that “the Agu Umabor Eha-alumona which is predominantly one of the food baskets of Nsukka local government area is only remembered during an electioneering campaign.”
He said it was sad that political leaders would come with promises that would never see the light of the day.
Ugwuanyi recalled how Agu Umabor elites appealed to the past administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to come to their aid when the damage to the road had not gotten this bad.
“Now, Fulani herdsmen are feasting from the road almost on a daily basis.
“They stationed there to kidnap our people because the road is almost impassable.
“2027 election is drawing closer; politicians will use the road as a campaign manifesto to elicit our support, after which they will abandon us.
“This is why we are making this passionate appeal to Governor Peter Mbah to rewrite history by changing this narrative,” Ugwuanyi begged.