Fides Media Living the Faith
…Declares for House of Assembly
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The out-going chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Emeka Aforka, has attributed what he described as his success story in his four-year stay as the helmsman of the council area to the unflinching support of the people of Orumba North, as well as the confidence reposed in him by the traditional rulers of the sixteen communities that make up Orumba North.
Speaking to Fides in his office at the council headquarters, Ajalli, Aforka said he owed his successes and breakthroughs to Orumba North indigenes, saying that he would not have made any impact if not for the unalloyed support of the people of the area, adding that he was able to secure the confidence and trust of his people.
The council boss stated that his people threw their weight behind him the very first day he assumed office as the chairman, noting that he was the only local government chairman to serve for four years (under transition) in Anambra State, a feat, he described as unprecedented.
Reeling out his achievements, he said he mounted street lights along Ufuma Junction and other places in Orumba North, noting that his administration also mounted 12-unit street lights at the council’s headquarters, even as he said that he also asphalted and opened up many rural roads in Orumba North, including asphalting of the council’s headquarters.
On the construction of markets, Aforka stated that the four major markets in Orumba North had his legacy signatures. ‘Eke-Oko Market is wearing a new look courtesy of my administration. Immediately I came in, I started rebuilding dilapidated and moribund markets.
We commissioned the first phase at Afor Ufuma Market. We are constructing a storey building at Afor-Udo Nanka. We constructed 6-unit VIP toilets: one at Afor-Udo Nanka, Eke-Oko, Oye-Ndiowu, Afor-Ufuma and Awgbu Market. We are also sinking a water borehole. Go to these markets and see things for yourself. Virtually all the markets in Orumba North have received adequate attention.
‘When I came on board as the chairman of this Local government, the whole of this headquarters was bushy; overgrown with weeds. Reptiles and dangerous animals were everywhere. I said to myself, I am going to change the narrative. We cannot do our administrative business in a place like this. I started asphalting the entire place. Today, Orumba North Headquarters is one of, if not the cleanest and neatest council headquarters.
‘I inherited a project which is the construction of over 4 kilometres of road (Agric Road-Ufuma-Umuonyoko road). I completed that road. My administration paid and completed the asphalting of over no road, I had to put bulldozers and every other heavy equipment, brought down the hills and made sure that the road was motorable. Today, most of the virgin roads I discovered are asphalted. It is not easy. I built numerous culverts; in Awgbu alone, I constructed three culverts during my first tenure. I renovated many primary schools in some other communities.
four kilometres of road. Not only that, I created a lot of virgin roads in many communities, including Ndiowu. You can ask questions. A place where there was no road, I had to put bulldozers and every other heavy equipment, brought down the hills and made sure that the road was motorable. Today, most of the virgin roads I discovered are asphalted. It is not easy. I built numerous culverts; in Awgbu alone, I constructed three culverts during my first tenure. I renovated many primary schools in some other communities.
‘I renovated and equipped the Health Centre at Ndiokolo Community; I controlled flood havoc at Amaokpala Community. I built a mini-bridge at Ajalli Community; a road that was inaccessible for almost five years. I came and within six months, I made it accessible. I invited the wife of the governor to come and commission the bridge. She came and was highly impressed with my performance. I do not like blowing my trumpet. I know I have worked and I am still working,’ Hon. Aforka concluded.
On his State Assembly Aspiration, he urged the Orumba North constituents to support him to enable him to continue from where he stopped in delivering democracy dividends, noting that the traditional rulers, community leaders and stakeholders had all agreed on zoning formula which, he said, favoured his zone, adding that it was their turn to represent the constituency in State Assembly.