The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, has expressed concern about the existence of many shanties and unkept buildings in the heart of the town, which hosts the state capital.
The Asagba, who undertook an unscheduled visit to the five Ogbes in Asaba on Monday, saw some of the structures, which defaced the environment, and directed the owners to give them the needed facelift.
He noted that the satellite towns and outskirts of Asaba, with their magnificent structures and good network of roads, had taken the shine off the main town, stressing that though he inherited the situation he was not prepared to accept it as the norm.
The Asaba monarch explained that, even with the limitations of the office, each time he had the opportunity to drive round the town, he was always confronted with the sight of buildings with old and tattered roofs, unpainted walls and bad internal road network, highlighting the compelling need for the renewal of the core Ime Ogbe; the main town.
His Royal Majesty observed that some of the buildings in question were inhabited by elderly persons whose children lived in the cities and even abroad and wondered why they should be left in such degrading apartments.
Asagba Prof Azinge said having seen things for himself, he would not allow the situation to degenerate, pointing out that the issue would be discussed at Tuesday’s Asagba Executive Council meeting to ascertain the contribution that could be made, to be followed by a proclamation that would set the tone for the renewal.
“Before this tour, I had already set up a committee that will look into this. My ultimate goal is that I will make a pronouncement that the Ime Ogbe should be renewed. Call serious urban renewal and facelift proclamation. It is not enough for us to claim that Asaba is the fastest growing state capital; yes it is, but it is as far as the external areas are concerned, and we cannot glamorize the whole of Asaba by what we see at the satellite and peripheral areas.
“The core Ime Ogbe, which is the foundation of Asaba, we must not allow to decay. So my going round was to see how we can bring the heart of the town at par with what is happening at the satellite areas. The money may not be there immediately, but I know that we were not speaking to the elderly that we saw, we were speaking to their children, whether they are in Nigeria or overseas, we are urging them to send money let us uplift and give facelift to their respective homes.
“You started somewhere, you may be having your buildings all over, in other strategic areas, but Asaba still remains your home; your root; your foundation; the basis of your whole existence. So, yes the elderly may not be able to do it, but let the children help. You could see that many people that we spoke to were all in sync with the idea. They believed it was something worthy of adventuring into. They agreed in principle that there was need for us to renew and I believe that the generality of Asaba people, regardless of their financial status at this point in time, will buy into it and gradually we will build it up”, the Asagba said.
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