Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has been urged to urgently stem the tide of epidemic in the State by clearing the refuse littered in all parts of the State.
Jointly addressing newsmen in Onitsha yesterday , the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Human Rights Liberty Access and Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE), described as embarrassing the mountainous refuse littered in various streets and roads in Anambra State.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the two groups, Dede Uzor A Uzor, who is the Chairman, South East of CD and Executive Director, HURIDE, said that Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, Ihiala and other cities are stinking due to the refuse which has not been cleared for several months.
He said it is unfortunate that the first thing that greets first time visitor of any Anambra State urban towns is stinking odour oozing out from the rotten refuse dumps.
He said: With this odour the refuse can spread different sicknesses and diseases that can escalate to epidemic level”.
It was gathered that at least a serving Caretaker Committee Chairman of one of the Local Governments has the contract to evacuate the refuse.
It was not clear why the Local Government Caretaker Committee boss failed to clear the refuse, whether he has not been paid even when he is a member of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the State.
It is even surprising that the Governor will leave the refuse uncleared when the Governorship election which APGA is a strong contender is just few weeks away from now.
“Elsewhere this can cause APGA this election but here everything is taken for granted but that is not enough reason to allow the refuse to mount and cause epidemic in the state” Dede Uzor said.
He called on Governor Obiano to immediately direct the neccessary agencies and individuals saddled with the evacuation of refuse in the State to clear them within one week
This, he said, is not only in the interest of APGA as a party but the Governor himself, the party’s candidate , Prof Chukwuma Soludo as well as the generality of Anambra people whose health are in jeopardy.
