BY MAGNUS EMUJI/CHUKWUDI ASOYA
the member of the Delta State House Assembly representing Oshimili North Constituency, Hon Frank Esenwa has said that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has earmarked N1.3bn as counterpart funding for erosion control in the Okpanam community.
The villages where the gully erosion had caused damage are Amachai, Ogbeozoma, Ogbe Ojie and Vanguard areas.
Esenwa disclosed this in Okpanam during the maiden edition of Okpanam Heritage Day.
While saying that Okpanam was a cosmopolitan society, Esenwa told the community that strangers helped in the overall development of any town, just as he noted the role of strangers in the growth of any community.
Esenwa also explained that he had brought some street lights to the community, adding that 400 street lights would soon be deployed to the community and promised to sustain the quality of representation for his people.
Earlier, the Ugoani (Traditional Ruler) of Okpanam, HRM (Dr) Michael Ogbolu said that Okpanam organized the Heritage Day not only to showcase its rich cultural legacy but to prove to the world that the community is accommodating to strangers.
He commended the organizers of the Okpanam Day celebration, especially the President-General of Okpanam Youth Organization, Comrade Lucky Okolo; the President-General of Okpanam Community Development Union, Mr. Robert Ogonenwe and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Ogbueshi Innocent Uchebuolu for their efforts at showcasing the community.
In an interview with journalists, the Ikejiani of Okpanam Kingdom, Chief Felix Okafor and the Asagba of Umuidigbe Ocha, Ogbueshi Prince Onokwai said the Heritage Day had been leveraged as a veritable platform to display the community’s identity.
Okafor noted that the community had shown that it was very accommodating as citizens from all parts of the country participated in the ceremony, stressing that the Okpanam community does not discriminate.
The Ikejani appreciated Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his commitment to address the gully erosion in Okpanam. In his welcome address, the President-General of Okpanam Community Development Union, Mr Robert Ogonenwe and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Ogbueshi Innocent Uchbuolu, thanked everyone for their role in ensuring the success of the Okpanam Day celebration.
The event was attended by the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ngozi Okolie and other dignitaries.
