By Peter Dibia (From Umukpa Uhu, Amato Alike, Obowo LGA)
For several years, Umukpa Uhu in Amato Alike Autonomous Community, Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, lived in prolonged darkness caused by a severe and lingering electricity crisis. The absence of stable power supply affected households, crippled small businesses, weakened security, and slowed social and economic activities in the community.
Today, that painful chapter is drawing to a close, following the successful rural electrification intervention facilitated by the Obowo Local Government Council with the support of the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The intervention followed an on site inspection carried out by the Executive Chairman of Obowo Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Obioma Johnson Ehirim, who personally visited Umukpa Uhu to assess the extent of the power challenge. The inspection marked a turning point in the efforts to restore electricity to the community, which had endured years of epileptic and unsafe power supply.
The visit was initiated after the Councillor representing Alike Ward, Comrade Chinonso Collins Iwueke, drew the attention of the council chairman to the hardship faced by residents of Umukpa Uhu. The councillor decried the poor state of electrical installations in the area, noting that the faulty wiring posed serious danger to lives and property while denying the community the benefits of modern living.
In response, Hon. Barr. Ehirim mobilised council engineers and technical experts to conduct a detailed assessment of the affected areas. The outcome of the inspection paved the way for a comprehensive electrification project aimed at restoring safe and reliable power supply to Umukpa Uhu and adjoining parts of Amato Alike Autonomous Community.
As promised, the intervention moved beyond inspection to action. New electricity poles, cables, and other essential accessories were delivered to the community and fully installed. With the fixing of the new infrastructure, Umukpa Uhu is finally witnessing the return of stable electricity, effectively ending decades of darkness that had held the community back.
Lauding the project, Hon. Pius Dibia, the Secretary of Amato Alike Town Union, expressed profound appreciation to the state and local government leadership for responding to the long standing cries of the people. He commended the 3R Government in Obowo under the leadership of Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, describing the intervention as a clear demonstration of people centred governance.
According to him, the restoration of electricity in Umukpa Uhu is more than an infrastructure project. He noted that it represents renewed hope for economic growth, improved security, and better living conditions for residents of the community. He assured that the people of Amato Alike would continue to support policies and programmes that bring development to the grassroots.
Welcoming the governor’s representative and the local government officials to the community, the Chairman of Umukpa Uhu Aladimma, Mr. Edward Ogundu, also expressed gratitude to Governor Hope Uzodimma for remembering the community. He thanked the governor for approving and supporting the electrification project, noting that Umukpa Uhu had waited patiently for years for such an intervention.
Mr. Ogundu described the restoration of power as a landmark achievement that would transform the social and economic life of the community. He stated that with electricity restored, youths would be more productively engaged, businesses would thrive, and the community would experience improved safety and development.
Adding his voice, one of the illustrious sons of the community, Chief Lazarus Ibekwe, described the project as timely and well conceived. He noted that the electrification intervention came at the right moment when the community needed renewed hope and inclusion in the state’s development agenda. Chief Ibekwe emphasised the importance of electricity as a catalyst for development, stressing that no community can truly progress in the absence of stable power supply.
He commended Governor Hope Uzodimma, the Obowo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Barr. Obioma Johnson Ehirim, and the Councillor representing Alike Ward, Comrade Chinonso Collins Iwueke, for their collective efforts in ensuring that Umukpa Uhu was no longer left behind.
According to him, the project has restored confidence in governance and demonstrated that effective leadership can address long neglected challenges.
Governor Hope Uzodimma has continued to receive commendation for strengthening grassroots governance through his 3R Mantra of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Recovery. By empowering local governments to respond directly to community needs, his administration has made it possible for projects such as the Umukpa Uhu electrification to become a reality.
The leadership of Hon. Barr. Obioma Johnson Ehirim has also been widely praised for its proactive and people focused approach. His readiness to act on the concerns raised by the Alike Ward councillor reflects a commitment to inclusive development and service delivery.
For the people of Umukpa Uhu in Amato Alike Autonomous Community, the restoration of electricity marks the beginning of a new era. After years of darkness, light has finally returned, bringing with it hope, progress, and a renewed sense of belonging in the development journey of Obowo Local Government Area and Imo State at large.
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