BY CHIKA KWAMBA/MARVIS EKELAKA
The Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Prof) Epiphany Azinge has issued a one-week ultimatum to residents of the Cable Point area of Asaba to flush all criminal elements and end their criminal activities for a better society.
HRM Obi Azinge made the pronouncement during his tour to the area, accompanied by the Director-General of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), Chief Patrick Ukah, and other palace chiefs and government officials.
Addressing the residents, the monarch reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding and fostering a harmonious and safe community, soliciting their support in the realization of his intentions for the Asaba community.
“Cable Point is rooted in our history and eminently so. At a point in time, Cable Point was the centre of attraction where the elite resided, and the centre of commerce as far as Asaba was concerned.
“By then, commerce was through the waterways, so there was no Asaba without Cable Point. Our late Premier of the Midwestern Region left his house in Cable Point, so many Asaba elites of that generation lived in Cable. For us, coming to Cable Point is to reconnect with our history and our past in many ways.
“For us to abandon Cable Point is to abandon a very rich part of our history. We have resolved that it is in our collective interest not to abandon Cable Point, but to make sure that we rebuild Cable Point.
‘’But, we are also confronted with challenges. We are not unaware of the fact that the Cable Point of the days gone by is no longer the same Cable of today. A lot of promises have been made today, and a lot of commitments, but the challenges confronting us at this point are enormous and overwhelming. That is why I am here to appeal to all and sundry, that yes, Asaba is hospitable, e like accommodating indigenes and ensuring that we live peacefully with all…
“But, it will come on the terms and conditions that I will hereby enunciate: firstly, we are aware that insecurity reigns supreme in Cable Point at this point. The community is almost a theatre of conflict on its own, and we are worried that if not properly managed or handled and there is any escalation issue in Asaba, it is likely to erupt from Cable Point.
“We are to forestall any eventuality to make sure that it does not happen, and the only way that it will not happen is for you to take responsibility; to know how to confront some of these emergencies, and to take the bull by the horn early in the day.
“Another reason that is not impressive at all is the intelligence available to us; that Cable Point is more or less a drug-infested area. Most of the drug peddlers who filter into the other parts of the state capital have their roots here in Cable Point, and that is why we are saying ‘Enough is enough’.
‘’We are only going to give one week’s notice to all those people involved before we start raiding all those places” HRM Azinge said.
In a vote of thanks, the Cable Liaison Officer to the Asagba, Ogbuesi Peter Iweze, appealed for a motion-censored street light to improve the safety of residents, boost the local economy, create a conducive environment at night, and curb criminal activities.
In their separate remarks, the representatives of the various ethnic groups residing in Cable Point praised HRM Obi Azinge for his unwavering support in restructuring, securing, and developing the community.
