BY Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The Chairman Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Homeland Affairs and Boundary Matters and member representing Ayamelum State Constituency Hon.Mmaduaburochukwu Bernard Udemezue has stated without mincing words that the motion moved by a colleague for the state government to acquire lands for agricultural purposes is not the most pressing issue in the state.
Udemezue who was the only lawmaker that opposed the motion during plenary on Tuesday, said establishment of agricultural and industrial hubs were not the insecurity ravaging the state, insisting that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo should battle unknown gunmen camping in the forests and bushes where the lands would be acquired.
He said Ayamelum does not have enough farmlands to farm let alone giving them out for acquisition. Udemezue emphasized that what farmers need is security in the farmlands for them to farm freely without being kidnapped or killed by criminals.
The lawmaker who made case for mechanized farming, said farmers need fertilizers, tractors, storage facilities and other implements boost agricultural productions and not government acquiring people's lands for whatever purposes.
Udemezue said Ayamelum people does not need government to come and establish agricultural hubs in their place; that what need is for government to protect farmers from herdsmen and unknown gunmen, stressing that empowerment and security are what Ayamelum farmers really need not government encroachments on their lands.
He was of the opinion that land acquisition if not properly handled, government may end up chasing people out of their farmlands and the intention of the motion would be defeated which he believes would ultimately result to acute hunger and starvation.
He was worried that Ayamelum has been marginalised since the inception of Anambra State such that the deplorable condition of the council area begs the question whether Ayamelum is part of the modern day Anambra.
He said they don't have government presence but admitted that the present state governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has remembered his constituency as his administration is currently constructing a general hospital in the area and also constructing Omor- Igbakwu-Ifite-Ogwari-Umueje road still in Ayamelum local government area.
Udemezue maintained that Ayamelum is synonymous with dilapidated infrastructure as he pointed out that no amenities are functional in his constituency even as he pleaded with the governor to help Ayamelum to complete the road project that runs through Ebenebe-Awba-Ofemili and connects Umuerum in Ayamelum local government area.
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