De Parrot Media, 3rd January 2025
Uzea Kingdom Issues Desperate Plea to Governor Okpebholo Amidst Widespread Underdevelopment
BENIN CITY – The Okugbe-Ku Uzea Community Development Association, Incorporated, representing the Uzea Kingdom in Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo State, issued a strongly worded communiqué following a press conference yesterday, detailing a dire situation of underdevelopment and urging Governor Monday Okpebholo for urgent intervention.
The Association congratulated Governor Okpebholo on his electoral victory but emphasized the precarious state of the kingdom, stating that their continued existence is threatened. They described Uzea's circumstances as akin to the “Old Stone Age,” lacking basic necessities such as electricity, healthcare, good roads, potable water, and education. This stark reality exis
ts despite the kingdom’s significant natural resources, including oil, gas, and gold reserves discovered since the 1970s, prompting concerns about potential encroachment by illegal miners.
The communiqué detailed the following critical issues:
Electricity:
No part of Uzea has ever had access to electricity.
Healthcare:
A severe lack of hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and maternity units contributes to high maternal and child mortality rates.
Education:
Most communities lack secondary schools, forcing children to leave home at a young age for their education, leading to high rates of teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and death. Existing primary schools, many built in 1955 under Chief Obafemi Awolowo's administration, are in deplorable condition.
Infrastructure:
The absence of motorable roads severely hampers the agrarian economy, preventing farmers from transporting their produce to markets.