Beautiful new dawn beckons in Orumba as Soludo unveiled his plans for Awa and her neighbours
Okey Emmanuel
It was all cheers and jubilations for the Mmamu River communities in Orumba North yesterday, August 15, 2021 as the APGA Gubernatorial flag bearer, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo unveiled his plans for them.
The former CBN governor who visited Awa, Ametiti, Ndiukwuenu, Okpeze communities (the four communities in the Mmamu River Basin, now Christened *AANO Communities* by Soludo at Awa) could not hide his feelings as he saw a virgin, naturally and heavily endowed communities lying untapped.
The communities, through Dr Ray Ofor, the Awa President General, had in their welcome address to the world acclaimed development maestro, x-rayed the riches but painfully abandoned opportunities in the region. The PG narrated how the rich vegetations and Rivers Mmamu and Aghomiri had made the communities the food basket of Anambra but the lack of access road had left their God-given blessings lying wasted and the farming communities impoverished. He also pointed out other natural endowments in the region, including the famous but undeveloped *_Ogba-agu-* cave in Awa. Another locked up natural resource in the area, he said, is the Mmamu Forest Reserve which used to be a major revenue source for the old Anambra State. The PG also hinted on the likelihood of rich deposit of petroleum raw materials in the area, even as Shell had in some years past identified some portions of the riverine terrain in the community for further exploration.
The highly captivated Prof Soludo, who listened to the address with rapt attention, said he was thrilled by the rich and untapped resources in the zone. According to him, the Anambra State government actually need the *AANO* communities more than they need the government, noting that the region is indeed a naturally reserved treasure for the state. He promised that, if given the mandate to govern Anambra, his government shall not delay in exploiting the rich resources in the area. As for the Ufuma-Awa-Ndiukwuenu-Amansea Road, Prof Soludo said that it was the least thing Ndi Awa and her neighbours would expect from his government. He also revealed to the amazement of the communities that he had earlier, in his development plan for Anambra, marked the region for development as major tourist centre. He narrated how he had told Chief Joe Anatune, Onwa n’Awa, at a breakfast table some months back that he was thinking of marking out a development hub in the area which he carved as AAA (Awka- Amansea-Awa) as an extension of the Awka capital territory.
Some dignitaries – including government functionaries and APGA chieftains – in Orumba, Aguata and other parts of Anambra attended the event. The long list included two times member of the Federal House of Assembly, Hon Ben Nwankwo, Deputy Majority Leader in Anambra House of Assembly, Chief Emeka Aforka, Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba North LGA, M/s Ify Obinabo, former President of Anambra League of Professionals, Mr Chike Nwegbe, former member of Anambra House of Assembly from Nnewi South, Hon Tony —-, and many others.
The event was chaired by Dr Chima Okoli, a renowned pharmacist and very good friend of Awa from Ajalli.
The historic and hilarious occasion ended in a very happy note with a vote of thanks by Joe Anatune, Onwa n’Awa. *@okey.ODEWAIWAI. com
