Igbokenyi community in Anambra West LGA, Monday appealed to the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Anambra North Zone, Princess Stella Oduah, for access road, potable water, hospital, school and power supply.
The Vicar of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Igbokenyi, Rev. Victor Ogbalu, made the appeal when Oduah, former Minister of Aviation and her senatorial campaign team paid a visit to the community.
It took Oduah and her campaign team three hours on a speed boat from Onitsha axis of the River Niger to locate the community, which is cut-off from the rest of Anambra State.
Ogbalu said that life in the community had been unbearable since no form of civilization can be found in the agrarian community.
``I pity our august visitor for the 15 minutes trek to the community centre after alighting from their boats.
``So we don’t talk of vehicles here and most people especially children, who were born in this community, have not seen a vehicle before. If you doubt what I am telling you, just go round and if you see any vehicle I will give you N10,000 on the spot.
``We see vehicles only when we leave our community for other towns. And for the few privileged Igbokenyi indigenes, who work or reside outside this community, that owes vehicles, do park them in the neighbouring Illah community in Delta State.
``And our people had to board speed boats, which cost about N300, to get to our community from boat loading spots along the River Niger.
The cleric also said that the people drink directly from the River Niger, since there is no bore hole water; there is no power supply, a litre of fuel cost N200 and there is no GSM network.
``Social amenities like hospitals and schools are not here. We needed help from anywhere it might come from,’’ he appealed.
Responding, Oduah, who was emotional depressed over the deep rooted lack and poverty in the community, donated edibles and items worth over N3 million.
``I would assure you as a mother, sister and be the grace of God you senator come March 28; I would do all in my human possibilities to see how much social amenities especially bore hole and school I can set-up here for a start.
``I would also want to work hand-in-hand with the governor of the state to bring other social amenities and lighten your socio-economic burden.
``I have gone round the zone but the level of poverty and social lack here is just enormous; however, I urge you to ensure you to vote en mass for PDP, which would make it easy for me to redeem the promises I have made,’’ she said.
The items donated included bags of rice, beans, corn flour, onion, salt and tubers of yam as well as rechargeable radios, torch-lights, umbrella, T-shirts, caps and wrappers.
