An indigenous group in Abakpa Nike, Enugu, known as Nike Youth Development Forum (NYDF) has lampooned residents of the community and its environs who were opposing the proposed plan by the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to ease the traffic jam on the popular Nike Lake Road through the dualisation of the road.
The group described the protesters as being selfish and unfair to the governor who it (group) said has the interest of the people at heart.
The group was reacting to a publication in Leadership Newspaper of Friday, August 28, 2015, entitled “Tension In Enugu As Gov Ugwuanyi Plans Demolition Of Property”, which allegedly painted a negative impression about the genuine intention of the governor to deliver on his campaign promises to the people of the area.
The statement signed by group’s President-General, Chief Nwoga C. Ozoemena, noted that there was no tension in Enugu over plans to demolish property and dismissed the publication as baseless, self-serving and a mischievous failed attempt being sponsored by the affected landlords to smear the image of the present administration and distract it from its commitment to dualise the said road for overall interest of the people of the state especially those who use the road on a daily basis.
He recalled that the bad condition of the road has been a nightmare to the people of the area especially road users who get caught for several hours due to gridlock caused by heavy traffic of vehicles trying to meander through the narrow road, which is worsened by potholes and illegal erection of shops and houses close to the road.
The group stated that the decision of the state government to dualise the road and decongest it for socio-economic expansion and other inherent benefits was a welcome development and the best thing that has happened to people of the area in recent times, stressing that anybody who is thinking otherwise against this noble vision of Governor Ugwuanyi can only be described as an enemy of progress and should be treated as such.
“We appreciate the efforts of our governor to alleviate our sufferings through his noble vision and kind-hearted spirit to dualise and decongest the intractable Nike Like road for our people and users of this busy road to enjoy easy access.”
“We equally note the difficulties some of the owners of the affected property will encounter. We urge them to see this as a sacrifice they will have to make for the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy, rather than attempting to erroneously and mischievously paint the Governor in bad light.”
“May we therefore use this medium to urge our people-oriented governor not to be discouraged but forge ahead with his vision to give our area a face-lift and give the people of the state a new lease of life”, the statement added.
