Okpuitumo Abandoned While Ikwo Politicians Feast on Power — Chika Amaga

An Ebonyi-born industrialist, Chief Chika Amaga (Omemma 1 of Igbudu Kingdom, has raised the alarm over what he described as “total abandonment” of Okpuitumo and other rural communities in Ikwo Local Government Area, despite the presence of numerous political officeholders from the region.

In a public statement circulating across social media, Chief Amaga accused political leaders from Ikwo of prioritizing power struggles and party loyalty over meaningful development, citing the persistent lack of electricity, poor road infrastructure, and near absence of government services in areas like Okpuitumo.

“From Alike to Unweka, from Echara to Mgbabu and then Okpuitumo, darkness rules the night,” he wrote. “Entire communities go months—some even years—without power. Mothers give birth in torch-lit health centres, while school children return to homes that have never seen electricity.”

The statement caused renewed public outrage over the long-standing infrastructural decay in Ikwo, particularly in Okpuitumo, where roads are reportedly impassable and schools remain in dilapidated condition. Residents also say they have not felt the presence of government in years, apart from during election campaigns.

Chief Amaga blamed the worsening situation on divisions among political actors in the area, who he said have allowed personal ambition, party rivalry, and praise-singing politics to override their responsibility to the people.

“Our divisions along party lines, political loyalties, and fan bases have cost us more than any election victory has ever delivered,” he said. “We have put personalities over people.”

He called for a united, non-partisan effort among all political stakeholders from Ikwo to urgently address the electricity crisis in the area. According to him, a collective project to electrify the LGA—starting with communities like Okpuitumo—would not only restore hope to residents but also help heal political divisions.

“Electrifying Ikwo is not beyond our reach,” he stated. “If we channel just half the energy we waste on political bickering into purpose, we would have streetlights in Alike, functional boreholes in Mgbabu, and even cold storage facilities for farmers in Echara, Okpuitumo, and Unweka.”

Local residents and civil society groups have echoed the concerns raised by Amaga. A youth leader in Okpuitumo who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We only hear about our representatives when elections are near. After that, we’re forgotten. There’s no road, no light, no healthcare.”

As of press time, no major political figure from Ikwo has responded publicly to the statement, though sources say the message has unsettled several political camps ahead of anticipated realignments in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Chief Amaga concluded his statement with a direct appeal: “If we cannot give our people light, then what exactly are we doing in power?”