The people of Umunwanwa community in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State have sent a Save Our Soul (SoS) call to the federal and Abia State governments to save their land from ecological catastrophe.
They fear that greater parts of the agrarian community may be cut off in the next two years if concerned authorities fail to act on the threat.
In an emotions-laden voice, the people of Umunwanwa narrated that the gully erosion which appeared in a small proportion some years ago, has now increased beyond the control of local intervention, hence the federal ecological office in Abuja and Abia State government must intervene.
A recent visit to the community by the reporter showed that many business centres, churches, residential buildings and other commercial activities have been affected by the gully.
Also, many owners of houses close to the erosion site are now in a fix on where to relocate.
Some indigenes of the town who spoke on the issue, wondered why successive administrations in Abia State had not been able to tackle the problem, in collaboration with the federal government.
Mr. Fredrick Ndubuaku, an indigene who spoke on his people’s worries, said “This problem started many years ago and it is increasing every year. By 2023, more people will become homeless. More houses will go down if nothing is done.”
He regretted that his community which bubbled in business activities had been hit by the erosion problem, and appealed to all concerned agencies to save the people.
When contacted, the member representing Umuahia South in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Jerry Uzosike who is an indigene of Umunwanwa, said the problem is beyond his capacity as he had done a lot to control the gully.
He however promised that the problem would be defeated if the relevant authorities responded to his cries for help.
According to him, his visit to the national ecological office in Abuja could had not yielded the desired fruit as the Umunwanwa site was not included in the areas to be tackled by the federal government in 2021.
Uzosike also stated that he had invited Senator Theodore Orji of Abia Central, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP) and other concerned agencies to the site, towards bringing a lasting solution to it.
He rejected reports in the media where he was accused of abandoning his constituents in the face of the gully threats.
However, a veteran journalist and indigene of Umuahia South LGA, Comrade Uche Nwosu has accused the Umuahia South representative, Jerry Uzosike of allegedly playing the ostrich as his subjects lose more properties to the Umunwanwa menace.
Nwosu, who spoke to News Echo on the gully erosion, wondered why 2023 political game would be more important to Hon. Uzosike than the lives and survival of his kinsmen.
He maintained that the Umunwanwa-born House of Assembly member was only playing to the gallery in the things that affect his constituents, especially the Umunwanwa erosion site, insisting that the legislator has not done enough on his people’s plight.
A tour around the community showed that St Peter’s Methodist Church, Umunwanwa and its adjourning areas, popularly known as Ama Peter are on the verge of collapse, caused by the erosion challenge.
Community market and community water projects are also under threat by the crises.
The Chairman, House of Representatives committee on environment and member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency in Umuahia, Hon Sam Onuigbo could not be met in his office at 2.Aba road Umuahia to speak on the issue.
