Boreholes Belong to the People, Not Parties: Chinedum Orji Sets To Restores Water Facilities in Umuahia

Boreholes Belong to the People, Not Parties: Chinedum Orji Restores Water Facilities in Umuahia

The recent criticism from certain tiny quarters over Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji’s decision to direct the repair and restoration of boreholes he constructed and reticulated in Umuahia town during his tenure in office as Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly is misplaced and deserves proper context.

The issue is simple, water is a basic necessity, not a political privilege. Where infrastructure that was provided for the benefit of the people has fallen into disrepair, the responsible thing to do is to seek its restoration not to allow communities to continue suffering for the sake of political arguments.

During the former Speaker’s tenure, boreholes were drilled and reticulated in strategic locations in Umuahia town to provide access to potable water for communities. Years later, where some of those facilities require attention, the decision to have them repaired demonstrates a continuing commitment to the welfare of the people.

It is important to distinguish between politics and public service. A borehole does not belong to a political party; it belongs to the community. Its restoration should therefore be welcomed by everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

If existing water infrastructure is not functioning, the people should not be forced to wait while political actors trade blame. Leadership should be about identifying problems and finding solutions.

Rather than asking why Rt Hon Chinedum Orji is concerned about restoring these facilities, the more important question should be: Why should communities remain without access to functioning water infrastructure when something can be done about it but after 3 years after he left office, nothing was done about it, the old boreholes were not retrofitted either were new ones drilled.

Rt Hon Chinedum Orji’s intervention should be seen for what it is, an effort to restore essential infrastructure and alleviate hardship in the communities regardless of the time frame, if he has continued to maintain the boreholes after he left office, the argument would have been if the borehole projects were his personal properties.

The people deserve leaders who will not only make promises during elections but will also remain concerned about their welfare and be willing to act when problems arise.

The focus should not be on who gets political credit. The focus should be on getting the boreholes working and ensuring that our people have access to the water they need.