src=”https://www.thenicheng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Community-School-Oboama.jpg” alt=”” width=”2208″ height=”1317″ class=”size-full wp-image-153354″ /> Community School Oboama, Ezinihitte
Photo: Val Amanze[/caption]
.All structures to collapse soon
By Valentine Amanze
All structures to collapse soon
The once beautiful structures in the Community School Oboama in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State, have become death trap for more than 300 pupils and their teachers if no attention is paid to the dilapidated school by the government and the Oboama community.
A visit to the school, formaly known as LA (Local Authority) School, showed decaying structures, caused by long time neglect by the government.
While erosion has taken over the school compound, a new one-storey building of the Federal Government Universal Basic Education scheme, which is almost collapsing, was forcefully erected on the playground thereby making the issue worse.
It would be recalled that late last year (2017) a heavy flood caused havoc in the school and its host communities of Umuekwere and Umohii, both in Oboama, Ezinihitte Mbaise.
On why the school, inherited from the colonial masters, has remained in bad shape for so long,
the Chairman, Oboama Development Union (ODU) Lagos branch, Barrister Steve Ihunze, said that the government was playing politics with the welfare of its citizens.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Education and those managing the Ecology Fund to take up their responsibility by addressing the issue.
He said that it was wicked to deny citizens of their right because they did not vote for a particular individual.
Ihunze however called on government at all levels to assist the community now than when it becomes too late.
He further disclosed that ODU Lagos donated N50, 000 for the rehabilitation of the school.
Also, the former chairman of ODU Lagos chapter, Mr. Ferdinand Elemamba, lamented the destruction the flood caused in the community.
He said that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed by the heavy flood last year.
According to him, no assistance has been received from the three-tiers of government, stressing that presently, the youths are battling the natural disaster in the area through self-help efforts.
While appealing for assistance from both government and individuals, Elemamba called for unity in the leadership of Oboama, stressing that without unity there will be no progress.
However, all efforts to speak to the monarch of the community, Eze Julius Amaefule, proved abortive, as he could neither answer nor respond to text sent to him.