Catholic Bishops lauds Ekweremadu on water projects

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, has commended former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for targeting rural communities in his development efforts and water projects.
This was even as Senator Ekweremadu reiterated that his mission in politics was to make life better for the ordinary people and forgotten communities.
Bishop Obodo gave the commendation on Sunday during the commissioning of a water project at Omughu community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. It was done under the “Enugu West Water for All Programme”, an initiative of the Senator representing Enugu West.
Most Rev. Obodo said: “Politics is about people, how to improve the life of the people. The Church caters to the soul and body of the people. That you are sinking boreholes for the people is a sign of love, a fulfilment of your mission as a representative of the people to make them to live healthy. So, we thank you for consistently partnering with the Church to enhance the body.
“This is the third borehole that you sunk that I blessed and very soon, by the grace of God, we shall bless the water in my parish”.
Speaking, Ekweremadu said the idea of “Enugu West Water for All Programme” was inspired by the need to provide portable water to the people at affordable cost.
“This is different from our previous and other ongoing efforts to provide water to the people. Because the cost of each borehole through government contract runs into several millions, we decided to improvise by going to Turkey to import our own rig a few years ago. What we now do is to mobilise funds, then use it to provide water, including overhead tanks for our people under this programme.
Throwing more light on the project, the Coordinator, Engineer Jonathan Ivoke, said the deep-water borehole had the capacity to supply water to surrounding villages, hence its services was expandable beyond the church.
In their various remarks, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, Omughu, Rev. Michael Onoh; Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Hon. Dennis Amadi, and the Town Union President of Omughu community, Prince Vincent Ezi, extolled Ekweremadu for his rural-centric representation.
“While others site projects based on number of voters, you site projects based on needs. We see some politicians only during campaigns, but you are always here to check on us”, Ezi stated.