Gov Tasks Community Leaders On Sanitation

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra, has urged community leaders in the state to be committed to sensitising the people on the need to maintain a clean environment.

The governor made the call on Saturday during the 2011 New Yam Festival of Ifitedunu Community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr Emeka Sibeudu, Obi said: “Community leaders have the responsibility of sensitising their people on environmental sanitation in order to check refuse littering, flooding and overflow of water from drains when there is downpour.”

He urged members of the community to use the monthly Environmental Sanitation Day to clean the gutters and water channels.

He commended the community for its self-help developmental projects including skill acquisition programme and award of academic scholarship.

Earlier, Igwe Emeka Ilouno, the Eze-Dunu of Ifitedunu, urged the government to construct roads in the community to act as diversion of traffic at the Awkuzu-Ifitedunu-Abagana road.

Ilouno also appealed to the government to assist the community in its self-help projects and lauded Governor Obi’s administration for the people-oriented projects.

He stressed the need for peace in the community and within the government, adding that without peace, there would be no meaningful development.

“We must reconcile with one another and have the spirit of forgiveness so that our communities and the country can move forward,” he said.

Also speaking, Chief Pius Ozoanikwe, an illustrious son of the community, said that the essence of the New Yam Festival was to thank God for a successful farming season and good health.

Ozoanikwe said that the community had done away with fetish practices associated with the festival, adding that churches and religious leaders were now involved in the celebration.

“We have consulted with religious leaders on how to break the fetish things our ancestors engaged in, which had been the cause of our community’s retarded growth.

“We want to retain only positive, uniting and progressive attitudes and cultures,” he said.