Reptiles Take Over Sen. Chris Anyanwu, Bethel Amadi Constituency Projects in Imo State

Wild jubilation erupted among the local populations in Uzoagba, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State when Senator Mrs. Chris Anyanwu (representing Imo East Senatorial District) and Hon. Bethel Amadi (representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives) announced their joint decision to build a primary healthcare facility within their village. Ecstatically, local chiefs freely donated land for the project, followed by a colorful commissioning ceremony that attracted dignitaries from far and wide. The primary healthcare initiative, popularly known as “constituency project” initiated by the two Imo-born lawmakers was designed to make quality healthcare accessible to rural dwellers, especially the elderly, women and children.

Two years after that commissioning ceremony held amid pomp and pageantry, the constituency project is now totally abandoned, fully overgrown with weeds and home to all forms of dangerous insects and reptiles terrorizing the village. Local residents told Spaces for Change on December 31, 2012 that construction work stopped at the health facility two years ago. Frantic appeals and strong representations made by the traditional rulers to the lawmakers to complete the project yielded no response.

 

The two lawmakers have continued to trade blames, while both remain reluctant to take any concrete step towards completing the abandoned project. At one of the constituency meetings held in November 2012, Senator Chris Anyanwu blamed Hon. Bethel Amadi for the abandonment of the project, and urged local residents to redirect their grievances towards him (Hon. Amadi).

Across all climes, politicians are famed for their capacity to makes tall promises they have no intention to honour. Reminiscent of the operation-push-out treatment Imo citizens meted on their past governor, Ikedi Ohakim, local residents have sworn to use their votes again to push out all political leaders who are fond of making unfulfilled promises and launching projects that would never be completed. Particularly annoying is that Nigerian lawmakers have gained notoriety for collecting huge sums of money in the name of constituency projects that never see the light of the day. “Please, help us tell them to come and complete this project, or else…” a local youth leader fumed.  

Senator Chris Anyanwu and Hon. Bethel Amadi…over to you. Your abandoned project is begging for attentiom!