Andoni: Infrastructural Development And The PDP Contribution 1
IT is generally an acceptable maxim that “Human wants are insatiable” even as posited by the economists. It is also a fact that the higher one goes, the many problems he encounters. This is practicably human affairs and experiences as far as life is concerned and life could not be disconnected from politics irrespective of the sector.
Infrastructurally, Andoni could not be said to be developed judging from what is on ground by physical assessment, but for a people who have not tested or seen anything as such to have witness what many called general hospital and a resident doctor as well as primary health centres in place, the perception of such individual or group of individuals would be positive about a government, which must have remembered them.
Infrastructure are measuring tools which determine the status of a given nation, state or community, either developing or developed. Infrastructure such as buildings, transport system, water and electricity supplies, health care delivery and road construction amongst others, serves such purposes.
Andoni is an ethnic nation in Rivers State in the Niger Delta Region. It is located on the tip of the Atlantic Ocean, indeed a coastal and oil bearing ethnic nation.
Before the advent of the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party in 1998 in Nigeria, Andoni communities were only accessible via the water ways. No part of Andoni in Rivers State was accessible on the road, except those located in Akwa Ibom State.
Andoni, prior to PDP administration had only a cottage hospital located at Unyengala Doni-town dilapidated and reportedly under staffed, but without a proper functional judicial system, no potable water, no roads, no power supply and what have you. It was indeed not only a marginalized entity rather an abandoned nation where nobody thinks of its existence not to mention its citizenry.
Suffice it to state that if those at the echelon of government had acknowledged the existence of Andoni indigenes as equal higher beings, they could have considered the place for such infrastructure that would have affected the people positively.
Before the PDP administration, awarded contracts or projects were always seen as personal property that could be executed at will or a chance to amass wealth, enhance the embezzlement of funds meant for projects in the area.
For example, a Model Primary School awarded to Isiama Community between 1991/92 by the Chief Rufus Ada-George’s led government of Rivers State is until date nowhere to be found, it was not built, not to mention been uncompleted. What a sorry situation? The contractor who told that community of signing the funds meant for the project into his personal account is still walking the street of Andoni without intimidation, caution or conscience of the plight of the suffering children. No doubt the reason for the Boko Haram insurgence which is taking a misdirected anger, other than the sect pouring their anger of underdevelopment on their leaders and those concerned, they misdirected it to the entire Nigeria and Mr. President. An absolute, irresponsible and unacceptable war, it cannot stand, therefore, it is condemned.
Before the PDP administration, the only road on Andoni was the uncompleted Ngo-Oyorokoto road. Issue of this very road was severally discussed by Issues Abattoir in 2013 but no one had responded including the indicted figure.
This episode of Issues Abattoir is geared toward the contribution of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the infrastructural development of Andoni and the need to support the PDP government as a people.
Aside from the era of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, which Andoni witnessed numerous infrastructure either completed now or abandoned, the PDP leadership in Rivers State has contributed immensely to the growth and development of Andoni.
Human capital development or empowerment is not the essence of this episode, however, it is worthy to state that, the PDP administration has empowered in any little way or the other, the people of Andoni from inception till date.
Let it be on place on record that, the PDP administration has since 1998 till date given the people of Andoni the sense of belonging to a State irrespective of whatever one would say or think.
The Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo road generally regarded as the “Unity Road” was awarded by the PDP led administration in the State under the leadership of Dr. Peter Otunanya Odili as governor. It is obvious that Odili’s administration of 8 years could not complete the road for whatever reason they may adduce to it. However, the Amaechi administration which was an integral part of Odili’s government took it over still under PDP. The road is still ongoing but God forbid that it would remain for another administration. It is one of the greatest gain of the Andoni people in partisan politics.
At least there is a functional general hospital at Ngo community, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area with resident Doctors as against the previous experiences. Either it was built to specification or not as designed, the fact is that PDP administration has given the Andoni people hospital of that status. It is hopeful that, renovation, expansion or extension as an inevitable process in government would enhance the building or attainment of the required general hospital.
There are also numerous low cost housing units built across the LGA by the Odili led administration, though uncompleted, it has provided relief to many who are enjoying the facility today, especially at Ngo community, headquarters of Andoni LGA, it is PDP administration that executed such project.
The ultra model Council Secretariat and many office blocks within the council premises were embarked upon by PDP administration.
Consider the Model Primary Health Centres in most of the wards and the model Primary Schools either put in use or not, completed or ongoing, the reason is best known to the administration and the community as well, but it is PDP administration’s projects.
Remember, it is the duty of every community to liaise with any contractor to ensure the timely completion of a project while putting it to use lies in the hands of the community and government as well.
Again, the Ukwa town and Inyonoron road projects embarked upon by Hon. Ikunyiowayi Ibani as constituency projects are all by the PDP administration in the state.
The modern Police Station, naval operational base and the Ikuru-town-Atlantic road are all under the PDP administration.
The question now is what is APC stand in the area or which project could APC point to as evidence of its noisy change? If you think of the abandoned or ongoing electrification project, it was initiated and worked on by the council led by PDP.
Since the noise of expected “change” and subsequent defection to APC, Rivers State Government has never initiated any project.
To crown it all, these are evidence why Andoni citizens should use their tongue to count their teeth for posterity sake, and vote for a PDP incoming administration both at the state level and LGA.
Majority of the people shouting APC today in the area are beneficiary of PDP and one would wonder why they should abandoned who placed food on their tables for another.
The PDP has done great for the people hence its contributions must be reciprocated in 2015.
Therefore, now that Andoni have discovered its potentials and its needs have eventually increases, it is time to think of developing it. It wants have become insatiable, because its encounter with growth which is synonymous with development urgently deserves attention.
What the people wants is a system that would enhance them the opportunity to grow. The PDP therefore, is the only platform for which that growth is envisaged.###
With James Mgboineme
Jamesprojectgodwin@yahoo.com.
