By Patrick Obia
It was all moment of happiness as constituents of Odukpani/Calabar Municipality, roll out drums in praises of the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Eta Mbora for siting several projects in their Communities.
A two-day inspection tour to Odukpani/Calabar Municipal constituency by Mbora, Clan Heads, Paramount Rulers and Village Heads said they are happy with the projects sited in their domain.
Some of the Royal Fathers and indigenes who spoke to newsmen shortly after inspection of the projects in their territory said, they need more to be facilitated.
On his part, the Village Head of Obot Oko, Odukpani LGA, Denoenou Ekpo Ebe Otu expressed mixed feelings at the ongoing projects in his community.
According to him, “We are happy at the ongoing construction projects especially the completion and furnishing of the 6 classroom blocks at Government Primary School, Oboroko Okoyong in Odukpani but, we are sad at the incompleted and eroded section of the Akpap-Oboroko-Okurikang 3KM road because, being a joint project with the NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The NDDC section has not been fixed. We are asking the NDDC to return to site because of the rain that is coming”.
Also speaking the Clan Head of Akim Akim Qua clan, in Odukpani, HRH. Pius Effiong Bassey said, “If you know what we had here, it was a very bad road, access to this place was very difficult until we were blessed and it came from Hon. Eta Mbora, who took it upon himself as a constituency project and then we had this road and it has been well built, we are happy for it. It will boost the economic activities of this place”.
The tour which extended to Hause/Fulani Nasarawa community in Calabar Municipal, where 6 rooms Healthcare center was constructed, leader of the community, Alhaji Sanibaba Gombe disclosed that the Healthcare center will be of great benefits to members of the community.
“In life health is wealth, without health nothing good will come to you, at least this project has assisted not only Nasarawa community but almost four communities that are within Nasarawa community. So, the facility is extremely very useful to all of us but we have some challenges; it’s not fully equipped. If the place is well equipped, at least it will go a long way,” he pleaded.
Enroute to Ikot Anwatim in Calabar Municipal where solar powered borehole was constructed, the Village Head, Ntufam Bassey Patrick Offiong also lauded the Honourable Member saying, “This project has been of great benefits to the community and especially the school here where the borehole is located. It has improved the sanitation level in the school which was a problem to us. Before, there was no water in the school and around this side of the village.This water can serve up to two thousand individuals just here in the community.”
The Ndidem of the Quas and Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality, Ndidem Eta Bassey Eteta, represented by the Village Head of Etem Akim in Akim Qua Clan, Nsinjo Ekong Edimotop, while assessing classroom blocks with executive toilets, construction of internal roads (1.9 km) and solar powered street light said, “Indeed it is a pleasure seeing this type of project been done for our youths and it’s a thing of joy to the community having known that the Honourable has done this type of project here and we are believing that, since he knows that he has people to serve and he has served us properly, nobody has anything to say other than to tell him thank you.”
In an interview with journalists shortly after assessing the projects in both LGAs, the lawmaker Hon. Eta Mbora expressed satisfaction on the work done and pledged to extend hands of fellowship to other wards who has no project disclosing that the cost of the projects is over six hundred million (600 million) Naira.
“My style is to go where we have these projects on ground, meet with the communities, sit down with them, let them appreciate and see whether we have those jobs on ground or not and we have been able to do that. This is the agreement and contract I have with my people; whatever project you have seen is what the people asked for and demanded; they are purely critical needs of the people and I’m trying to keep them as much as possible.
“Those critical projects, like the ones we have at Ikoneto ward; Ikoneto is over six hundred million Naira and you can see the contents of the job. I am satisfied with the jobs and I wish I could do more. What we are trying to do is to ensure every ward has at least one project but you know I’m a Legislator, the Executive implement; what I do is to speak and push for my people to ensure every budgetary season we push their requests and accommodate them there. It is not only putting it in the budget there, if you’re not strong you can’t bring it out and implemented. We thank God that most of the ones we we’re able to push in are implemented and completed on record time”.
Projects ongoing/completed in Odukpani includes: constructions of solar-powered borehole at Asiaha Obufa, Adak Uko in Creek Town; Erosion control and embarkment at Ikoneto beech; construction of the Akpap-Oboroko-Okurikang 3KM road; completion and furnishing of 6 classroom blocks at Government Primary School, Oboroko Okoyong in Odukpani; Odot Health Centre in Ndon Nwong and construction of Akim Akim road, Odukpani central ward.
Others in Calabar Municipal includes; construction of healthcare centre at Nasarawa community, ward 10 Ikot Omin; Construction of old Adiabo Road, Ikot Omin/ikot Effiom Eyamba; construction of solar powered borehole at ikot Anwatim; construction of knowledge/ICT centre at West African People’s Institute, Essien Town; construction of 3 classroom block at primary school, Ediba; construction of classroom blocks with executive toilets at Akim; construction of internal roads (1.9 km) Solar powered street light at Akim Quas.
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