By Dennis Agbo

ENUGU- Udi North state constituency is a political homogeneity of the ancestral and culturally related peoples of Ojebogene, Ugwuenyi and Ezedike kindreds in the Udi north flank of Udi local government area of Enugu. It is not only that the people are related by origin but they also share similar traits and geographical composition such as the famous Udi hills which is a common feature in all the communities in the area.

Some of the communities that make up Udi north include Abor, Awhum, Umulnmgbe, Affa, Egede, Eke, Akpakumeze, Ebe, Umuoka, just to mention but a few that are located in three development centres out of four that make up Udi local government.

During the last Easter celebration the people met to reexamine themselves and their development status in Enugu State and came out with heart rendering submissions. The resolution of their meeting was punctuated with cries of marginalization, particularly by the immediate past administration of Mr. Sullivan Chime. The people said they were so disappointed with the performance of the Chime administration because they expected that since Chime comes from Udi local government area, he would have used the eight years to uplift and wipe away their cries of marginalization and underdevelopment, noting however that such was not the case.

L-R: Chairman of Udi North Leaders’ Forum, Prof. Edwin Onyeneje; House of Representatives member for Udi/Ezeagu federal constituency, Hon. Dennis Amadi; Udi LGA Caretaker committee chairman, Engr. Hyacinth Ngwu and former Secretary of old Anambra State Government, Prof. Onyema Ochuoha, at a meeting of Udi North Leaders’ Forum in Awhum Enugu State

The people, therefore, said that henceforth, they will take their destinies in their hands by first of all sticking to their incumbent leaders such as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and their son at the House of Representatives Hon. Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi.

They gave instances of the neglect of the area such as the 9th Mile-Opi old road which they alleged that former Governor Chime refused to reconstruct but chose to reconstruct from 9th to Oji River, which benefited only the people of Udi south, leaving them dejected.

They also stated that it is in Udi north communities that there is lack of functional hospital or government owned hospitals, making them feel that they are not part of Udi local government. They also complained of lopsided appointments against the people from Udi north but expressed happiness that Governor Ugwuanyi recognized the deficiency and appointed their son, Engr. Hyacinth Ngwu as Caretaker chairman for Udi local government.

The complaints were in legion: they talked about dilapidated primary and secondary school blocks in the area, adding that it was only in their place that there is no higher institution in the state. In all these, the people are more annoyed with ex-Governor Chime for not addressing the imbalance, being a son of Udi local government. They, therefore, resolved to have nothing to do with Chime in his new found political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, stating that they have never played opposition politics in the state and that Chime will not drag them into such strange voyage.

Among those that attended the Udi north leaders forum included its Chairman Prof Edwin Onyeneje, Secretary Hon Emma Ogbozor, Secretary of PDP in Udi LGA, Iyke Dilioha, former Secretary to the government of old Anambra state Prof. Onyema Ochuoha, member representing Udi/Ezeagu federal constituency in the House of Representatives,  Hon Dennis Amadi; traditional rulers of the communities in the area, among other political leaders.

One of their own and member representing Udi/Ezeagu federal constituency, Hon. Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi, who was present at the meeting said: “This is part of my constituency; Udi north comprises Ojebogene, Ugwuenyi and Ezedike kindreds. Our people decided the use the period of Easter to gather and brainstorm and the way forward for their future and in the course of it you can see what is playing out to review the background where they came from, to chart a way forward to support our Governor, (Ugwuanyi) who has the vision to drive us forward; the deputy senate president and myself who is their own son.

“I feel great and it is a soul searching moment, a moment that people need to clearly review their stands in politics and what we have done clearly is to show that our people are not ready for any form of opposition against the state government. We believe in our leaders and we queue in line with their programmes. We are not afraid of any party coming in here but traditionally, we key into our leaders and wherever they are going.”