-Larry Onyeche
Larry Egun Onyeche is the President-General, Agbor Community Union, ACU, the mouthpiece of ndi Agbor (Agbor people).In this interview with Ika Mirror, the respected community leader talked on the newly commissioned Itakpe-Warri Railway Station by President Muhammadu Buhari and the state of the nation as Nigeria clocks 60 on October I.
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How do you feel having a railway station and village in your area?
Hmm. I feel great and happy that the Maintainance Station is located in our area.It will grow our economy and social interaction. I also call on all to patronize it. Make use of it to Abuja
As President-General Agbor Community Union (ACU) what message do you have for President Muhammadu Buhari?
As the PRESIDENT-GENERAL of AGBOR KINGDOM, the message to our President, Muhammadu Buhari is while appreciating him for a job well done, is to extend the rail to Abuja instead of stopping at Itakpe. This is because it takes three hours by road from Itakpe to Abuja.It is better going straight from Agbor by rail to Abuja rather than stopping and taking another Taxi from Itakpe to Abuja .Although I heard him say so, I urge him to ensure it’s imminent execution.
In similar vein, AGBOR should be taken into cognizance in the East -WEST RAIL Construction
Nigeria is 60 as a sovereign nation. Is the country on the path of progress?
Nigeria as a sovereign Nation is now 60.A man of 60 is no longer young .If he/she is in active service, he/she is expected to retire. or to be retiring if in tertiary institution.
Well.For being on the path of progress.
Yes. When you talk of democracy and multiple states creation we are moving forward.
But in terms of infrastructural development and strengthening of our institutions, I will score her very low. Take for instance road network and it’s maintenance, Very poor. Is it Electricity? Zero .Interms of economy that one is in comatose.
Example is the Naira Dollar exchange rate. Now it is about #500/$1.as against #1/dollar in 1980.
Check out all manufacturing industries including, vehicle Assembling plants ,none exist now, making Nigeria a totally dependent on foreign / all imported items for existence.
What a shame at 60.A Nation at 60 where poverty level is on the roof top. Minimum wage of #30k/ month is nothing compared to the rate of
inflammation. Now a bag of foreign rice is 30k/bag and that of Local is #25k/ bag
Today inflation rate is 15%.Tell me. How can a common man live.
Meanwhile,the politicians are swimming in millions whiling giving palliative handout of indomie and small food items to the poor.
Go to our hospitals. Nothing there. You will cry. Thank God for the Covid-19 that tied us all to remain in this out Nation for six months since April 2020.The rich nouveau could not fly out to seek for medical treatment.They all were tied down to experience their on doing. We say in parlance:”odumodu body” In Agbor we say “Onyemeke ihia ome onwe” It is really unfortunate .Truely, any Nation that cannot, FEED her citizens, cannot provide accommodation i.e, universal HOUSING, cannot guarantee HEALTH and EDUCATION FOR HER CITIZENS IS FAILED NATION .A situation where you are in a Nation you cannot feed three square meals a day, you struggle to build your accommodation, you pay your health bills and pay education bills from kg to university all by yourself,
Where lies the role of Government.?
“Dienyi” Nigeria is a failed Nation.
Our leaders need to grow. Selfishness, greed and avarice are their bane. People join politics to amass wealth NOT TO SERVE.
Again too, you blame us the masses. We applaud illegal wealth. We encourage Yahoo, Yahoo and 419.
On the occasion of the 60th independence anniversary, what is your message for ndi Agbor and Nigerians in general?
Nigeria at 60, my message for Ndi- Agbor and Ndi-Ika in general is to remain focused We are already used to SUFFERING AND SMILING.OUR PEAPLE ARE WORKAHOLICS
We nor dey carry last. Our women are very industrous. Same for our men and even our youths. In Ika, we are great Farmers. We have cheap food and we struggle to keep ourselves happy and comfortable. We are self made and independent.
All we need from Government is good road network, Standard hospitals and Primary Health Centres with good facilities and qualified Medical personnel.
Similarly, standard Educational institutions
I am using this opportunity to appeal to our Son, the hard-working Governor of Delta State Senator (Dr) A.I Okowa to convert the College of Education Agbor to a University of Education. Again remodel our Baleke market to a Modern and Model Market. Currently, I am aware that the Low Capacity outdated leaky Agbor Central Hospital MORTUARY is to be rebuilt to a Modern one very soon. Kudos to Our Governor.
ARMY BARRACK, AGBOR.
I want to appreciate the speedy approach towards it’s realisation by our Governor. Towards this end, ALL FARMERS ON THE SAID LAND ARE BEING REQUESTED TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE ON THEIR FARM ON A DATE SOON TO BE ANNOUNCED FOR THE CROPS ENUMERATION.
My advice to Nigerians is to remain calm and patient with our leaders.
Sooner or a later we will be out of the woods.
For me ,NIGERIA SHOULD BE RESTRUCTURED INTO REGIONS ALONG THIS SEVEN ZONES
- Western Region
- Midwest Region
- Eastern Region
- South Eastern Region ( CrossRiver,Akwaibom,Rivers/Bayelsa ).
- North Western Region
- North Central Region
- North Eastern Region
- This will make for a better administration and weakend Central.
- Each Region having their Laws
- THE POLICE
- The Police should be decentralized into:
- The Federal Police
- State Police
- local Government Vigilante Police
- This will make room for better policing and security services of our immediate environment.
