By Ikechukwu Ani
Today is the D-day for Amaeke Ngwo and its indigenes and settlers. The town and its people have a date with history. A once peaceful and bubbling town with progressive minded people, properly located in the heart of Enugu State and controlling almost 80 percent of the state’s industrial hub, has lately become a new attraction for invading outlaws who have turned the town to a haven for kidnapping and banditry.
The community hosts major industrial giants like the Ama Brewery, 7up bottling company, Cee-way company, Aqua Rapha industry, Sharon paints, Aluminum Roofing sheet factories, branch offices of almost all the major banks in Nigeria, hospitality industries and several medium sized business enterprises. The indigenes are one of the finest you can get around; hospitable, hardworking and accommodating. But the recent upsurge of criminal elements in and around the community has left a sore taste in the mouth.
I cannot thank the President General of Amaeke community, Engineer Augustine Agu, and his team for the courage and determination to save Amaeke from disgrace. The Amaeke Summit on security and the launching of 60 million Naira Security Equipment holding today at the Amaeke Civic Centre is a bold community initiative that deserves the support of all and sundry. I am happy that the miracle working Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, is going to be the Chief Guest of Honour and ably supported by our own new sensation in both legislative prowess and philanthropy, Distinguished Senator Osita Ngwu, Senate Minority whip who represents Enugu West on the current Senate and had redefined rural development in a modern democratic setting.
The presence of Hon. Bar Sunday Umeha representing Udi/Ezeagu in the House of Representatives; Hon Uche Ugwu, Speaker Enugu House of Assembly; Hon. Okey Aneke representing Udi South in the State Assembly and Hon. Engineer Hyginus Agu, Chairman Udi LGA should be pleasing to any Amaeke indigene because in these gentlemen, I find a solution to our security problems.
I will not fail to recognise the dynamism of the respected Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Bar Ricky Agu who I know will rise to the occasion and convince our guests to invest in the security of Amaeke Community. I will continue to be proud of our Royal father, Igwe Jerome Okolo, Ogwugwu Ebenebe of Amaeke for his Royal support and desire for a crisis free Amaeke Kingdom.
It is worthy to state that the security of Amaeke, housing the legendary 9th Mile and host to different current business initiatives of the Enugu State Government is obviously a boost to the economy of the state, and reason why our able Governor should surprise the people of Amaeke and announce a security emergency today and also officially partner with Amaeke Town to restore peace and order in the community. I believe that when Amaeke Ngwo coughs, Enugu State catches cold, so there should be concerted effort to ensure that Amaeke is stable, protected and provided the enabling environment for self development.
Our special invitees should show Amaeke love today and use this project to rewrite the security consciousness of the state.
I call on our special guests to support this enterprise and see that going forward, our people can sleep with their two eyes closed.
We have levied ourselves to the point of no return in our fight with these mercenaries who kidnap for ransome and at times kidnap to kill and who almost took over our farmlands.
We may need to commend our able President General of the Town union for his ingenuity in uniting our people in the fight against the visiting aggressors. We have obviously exhausted ourselves and pray that as you listen to our sordid story, you will be challenged to save Amaeke from extinction. We also call on all the business entities we host – whether big or small – to massively invest in the Amaeke project. History beckons, step out and be counted. Amaeke must be great again!
*Ikechukwu Ani writes from
Omeluoha Amaeke Ngwo
