Asaba Indigenes, home and abroad, have been commended for their ambitious and self-help spirits which are manifest in the progress of the town.
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, gave the commendation when a U.S – based son of the soil, Ogbueshi Henry Okonji, paid him a courtesy visit.
He said he was happy with the massive support of Asaba sons and daughters, especially those in the diaspora, for him and the community, emphasizing that the task of advancing the town remained a collective responsibility.
The forward-looking traditional ruler explained that the support of the people, whom he described as critical stakeholders, had the tendency of energizing and fortifying him and the Asagba-in-Council in the knowledge that their efforts were being appreciated by everybody.
The Asagba admitted that some strides had been recorded since he ascended the throne, but maintained that the glory was to the entire Asaba people, while responsibility for whatever did not go well was his.
He, however, reminded his subjects that a lot still needed to be done to take Asaba to its pride of place, in line with the Igbo spirit of enterprise, stressing that the era of expecting the government to do everything for the community was gone.
Speaking further, the highly revered and respected monarch said: “So we are struggling with the palace project. Yes, and by the last count Asaba people, on their own, have been able to raise over N700m unaided, without any external intervention, and with some of the quarters yet to make their contributions.
“We are also exploring other avenues to raise funds for the project and the chances are so bright. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that the palace building will be a reality in no distant time.
“But that’s not the only task we have ahead of us. For me, my topmost priority is the well-being of Asaba people. We have many deficient areas requiring attention, but we have to start off with our Primary Healthcare Centres, which are lacking doctors, pharmacists, and other health workers.
“The last time I visited some of the Health Centres, it was discovered that only one doctor was available for the 11 facilities we have in Oshimili South Local Government Area. I had to reach out to the NYSC to post Corps Doctors to the palace and as we speak no fewer than four have been posted, with pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists, and will be redistributed to the Health Centres in Asaba. We will take responsibility for their accommodation, allowances and stipends for as long as they stay here.
“We need the Health Centres to be functional so that our people can enjoy good health and stay alive. I can assure you that we will be happier for it, and our community will be better for it. We are also planning to empower our women. By the end of the month 100 of our students in higher institutions will be receiving bursary award, followed by scholarship award to at least two students from each ebo to study either in the University, Polytechnic or College of Education. The vocational training you talked about, we are also thinking of how to get into it.
“So the welfare of our people is very important to us because we cannot have all the beautiful infrastructure in Asaba and our people are not catered for”.
He thanked the diasporan for the visit and urged him to remain a good ambassador of Asaba in the United States of America.
Ogbueshi Henry Okonji, in his remarks, had praised the Asagba for all he had done since ascending the throne, all of which Asaba Indigenes in the U.S were in the knowledge and proud of.
Ogbueshi Okonji, who is also the President of the Asaba National Association (ANA) in Atlanta, assured the monarch of the continued support of the diasporans and urged him not to relent in his visionary leadership.
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