Imo, The Refuse Dumps and My Worry

THE REFUSE DUMPS AND MY INTENSE WORRY

       The last time I checked, the profoundly stinking refuse dumps situated along the heartbeat of Owerri metropolis – Douglas Road, which lasted for almost two months, had been painstakingly evacuated. The evacuation took place between Monday October 10 and Tuesday October 11, 2016 via the effort of some well-spirited individuals from the state. 

        It’s not anymore news that from the month of August till barely penultimate week, the ancient city of Owerri, the Imo State capital territory was wholly assaulted by colossal and unbearable refuse dumps that covered virtually the entire locations on the famous Douglas Road – a pathway to yet another popular city in Abia State, Aba precisely. It’s noteworthy that, the affected area is the locality of the ever booming Ekeukwu-Owerri market.

        It’s needless to state that during the period under review, residents of Owerri as well as travellers taking the said route suffered an untold hardship. The arena was indeed a deathtrap, that, every individual and entity was extremely marvelled over the anomaly. People became more baffled and mesmerized when they realized the Imo State government couldn’t do anything, nor had a tangible plan, towards getting rid of the ugly sight. Well concerned stakeholders of like minds, including my person, made frantic efforts to fathom what actually prompted the stagnant posture of the government, considering the fact that any rational government needn’t be told or reminded that the menace in question wasn’t just an eyesore but a severe health-threatening jinx that required an urgent attention.

        In view of the aforementioned quest, I reliably learnt that the government’s dormant mood was informed by a court order issued to it, restraining it from tampering with the affected market, Ekeukwu Owerri. It would be recalled that the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led government was making an unrelenting move to relocate the market to a different locality, with the view that it is defacing the capital territory, particularly the Owerri municipal. Hence, the members of the host community who frowned over the intent, which they described as ‘uncalled for’, sued the government in a law court.

       What I’m yet to comprehend was how a court injunction retraining the government from tampering with the market got to do with the refuse dumps. That you were ordered to suspend every intended move to relocate a market pending when the court would serve a final verdict regarding the case shouldn’t be the reason for ignoring a life-threatening incident. How did the proposed relocation of a market concern the awaited evacuation of waste materials? I am trying to reconcile these in a way it would suit my understanding.

         Permit me to link the negligence to the information I received during the crisis. According to the notice, the government reportedly abandoned the refuse to punish some indigenes who have been fighting the Gov. Okorocha’s administration. ‘The government deliberately abandoned the refuse’? If such news held water, one would wonder what came over the highly revered government to have considered making such utterance publicly let alone implementing the uncalled policy.

        We need to understand that there is a strong tendency that those ‘fighting the Okorocha’s administration’ might not be residents of Imo State. The so-called hindrances to the Rescue Mission Administration, or the purported enemies to the governor, might be residing in Abuja or even outside the country. Needless to say that such punishment was not just baseless, but preposterous. I’m still of the view that the well celebrated governor could not think of such thing let alone making it public; hence, there could be a mix-up somewhere. But, if truly the government actually meant to punish its ‘enemies’, then it must get itself examined because apparently all is not well.

        Lest I forget, posterity won’t forgive me if I fail to appreciate those who assisted to ensure that the rubbish was taken out of the area. It’s crucial to acknowledge that a socio-cultural group known as Dozie-Mezie Owerri was behind the laudable initiative. The group reportedly provided ten dump trucks as well as three pay loaders for the exercise that lasted for over forty-eight hours. No doubt, they deserve our unalloyed applause having done what Napoleon couldn’t do.

       My intense worry at the moment is, fear of the unknown. Though the rubbish had been duly evacuated, I’m still deeply concerned what the future entails. If Imolites could pass through such unimagined neglect for several weeks, I wonder what they stand to face in the nearest future. Maybe, they would be asked to vacate their various homes for strangers; who knows? This calls for a thorough thought by anyone who means well for the state and its environs.

        It’s conspicuously high time our leaders stopped linking politics to governance. Let’s desist from playing politics with governance. The two phenomena are not unlike two parallel lines that have no meeting points. I’m saying this, because, when Imolites were suffering from the refuse dumps, most of the politicians in the opposition, rather than doing the needful or what was expected of them, they were very busy going from one media outfit to another to discredit the state government. Must we play politics with everything, let alone a matter concerning the people’s wellbeing? We must jettison retrogressive issues towards facing progressive ones squarely.

        Let’s continually count our teeth with our tongues to ascertain the actual number. Because if we fail to do so, I’m afraid, any of them (the teeth) might go off at any time without our knowledge. Of course, we needn’t be reminded of the implications. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador