Youths pass vote of confidence in council boss

‘’Farming activities at Opanda, Adani, Omo, Ifite Ogwari and a host of other farm settlements were threatened, as farmers could no longer access their farms for fear of being killed,” the group said.

It noted that Ezugwu’s administration undertook road clearing across the council, making movement easier for residents and road users. The youth said prior to the coming into power of the current administration, travelling to the council headquarters via the Ukpata–Adaba–Umulokpa Road was fraught with fear because of frequent attacks.

They expressed satisfaction that the route had become safer and accessible to motorists.

The youth leaders expressed satisfaction that the chairman had tamed the monster of insecurity, kidnapping and killings troubling the area, and deserved second term to consolidate the gains recorded in his first tenure.

They described Ezugwu’s administration as a purposeful leadership, marked by grassroots engagement, and empowerment of people at the grassroots.

The association recounted that before Ezugwu came to power as chairman, the agrarian communities in Uzo Uwani Local Government faced threats from criminals that laid siege to the area, with chilling reports of bloody clashes, kidnapping and destruction of farms.

According to the group, the communities that depended on farming faced food insecurity, even as many people fled their homes to faraway places ‘’to escape from these rampaging criminals.’’

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“Ezugwu strengthened law enforcement agencies’ presence at flashpoints in Uzo Uwani. His administration spearheaded the recent inauguration of ‘Operation Kweshiri’ and provided operational vehicles for prompt response to distress calls. He improved operational safety and provided incentives to boost the morale of officers serving in the area,” the group said.

The youths lauded several intervention projects of Ezugwu in the locality, which they said reflected a deliberate effort to restore the area as a food basket.

The group said Ezugwu facilitated the building of a permanent Police Mobile Base at Nkpunato, Nkpologu to improve the visibility of police in the area, adding that the chairman, who served earlier as the chief security officer of the area, used his experience to beef up security in the area and flush out criminals.

It said the chairman gave overwhelming support to the DRS patrol team, which had significantly improved response capacity, deterred criminal activities and restored confidence among residents of Uzo Uwani and its environs.