By Ekemini Simon
Ewet Offot Community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State is on the verge of being washed away by gully erosion which has been ravaging the area for some years now.
This reporter and other newsmen, who visited the gully site at Udo Inwang Street observed that a large part of the community habitat has already been swallowed by the gully with an hospitality complex, Royalty Gardens and Accommodation standing as the next building that may cave into the encroaching ravine.
The Palace of the Village Head of the Community and Cardinal Ekanem Seminary are among the buildings facing imminent threat.
Speaking with newsmen, the Village Head of Ewet, Eteidung Stanley Isaiah Uwah-Umoh noted that the gully erosion threat has in the past three years become a serious worry to the community as they have lost houses, farmlands, economic trees and cash crops.
He stated that owing to the encroaching threat, the hospitality complex owned by his Royal family may soon cave in as the gully has affected the safety of the building.
Eteidung Uwah-Umoh explained that because of the threat, the 22 rooms hotel and suites have been out of service to ensure the safety of lives of prospective guests.
While noting that although the State Government had a while ago undertaken some intervention work, he insisted that the effort had not proved adequate to bring to rest the threat of the erosion menace hence the need for immediate intervention before the community is swept off.
The Village Head added " We earnestly call on the State Government to urgently intervene. The hotel which has been the family fortune has been closed down and now the Palace is in a great danger.
" It would not be nice for the government to wait until more houses cave in and lives lost before intervention comes. We have communicated severally and given promises that help will come and we have waited long. Further delay may be dangerous because during these few days of rainfall, we have seen the serious portions caving in."
Commenting on what may have caused the gully erosion in the area, Eteidung Uwah-Umoh stated that the flood water channeled from town into the community has become much, hence the reason for the impending calamity.
He said " At a time, this road was right down to the beach. But now you have seen that the large portion of the road is no more. This damage has only taken about three years. It has been so fast and all along we have been informing the government. The remedial work they came to do, they have done it twice but it has not worked"."
Also lending his voice, one of the leaders of the community who serve as Chairman Advisory Council to the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Obong Simon Umoette called on government to rise up to the challenge the gully erosion is posing to the community before it reaches a stage where no remedial work will be effective.
He added " If Lagos State can reclaim land from the sea, I am convinced it is not too difficult to reclaim land from land. The State Government really have to be serious about our cry for help. This is rainy season and it will get worse.
" When our community is totally swept off, what will we tell our children tomorrow. The time to act is now. And we trust the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel to rise to our help".
Also speaking, the Chapter Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party in Uyo Local Government Area, Mr Idorenyin Orok said that the village besides playing host to many residents in the State Capital, the village has been at the centre in the support of the PDP administration and at such deserves immediate attention from government.
He added " If not for anything, but for the fact that this is a PDP community where our party pack votes, we expect and appeal to this administration to immediately intervene against the impending calamity which may gradually wash away this community."
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