For a community to find a day out of a whole year to celebrate its existence is always a welcome development. Such opportunity would create room for self assessment, convivial atmosphere and the oneness of the people.
For Essene town in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, this celebration comes up on every December 26 of the year where people would gather at the market square for such event which is closed to 20 years now since it was established.
Apart from the gathering together, it always followed with fund raising so that the proceeds therefore, could be used for the development of the community.
Astonishingly, considering the number of years since this celebration came on board, there appears to be nothing one could rightly point hands to, as a solid achievement from the yearly funds. Hence, no tangible development.
I therefore consider it pertinent to ask where such monies have been going to. Because I think that if such monies were to be properly utilized, nothing that the community would have lacked by now. Or do the community usually divert such monies raised in such event for personal use and not to the benefit of the people.
Could the famous Essene town be compared with its neighbouring villages of Ete or Okon? Not at all, the internal roads are nothing to write home about, not to talk of constant electricity and good market.
It is therefore not out of place to call on the authority concerned to put away sentiments and self aggrandisement but look inward to why there is this backwardness in terms of development in the community.
In as much as I whole-heartedly appreciate the yearly celebration, I think that there should be tangible something to show. It is not enough to be gathering every year, only for the social aspect but totally pay deaf ears on how to ensure that the community is put on a sound footing in term of providing it with useful amenities for the generation yet unborn.
This apart, I want to equally use, this opportunity to passionately appeal to the authority to plead with whosoever handles the road construction of court road to East West road to immediately and as a matter of urgency, return to work to see that road is completed before this years rains set in.
It is becoming a big shame and disgrace to Essene Community to see that road in the condition it is now. It could have been rather better for it to remain the way it was than the ugly scene that it is now, posing a difficult situation to motorist, and pedestrian to pass into the town. A word should be enough for a wise.
Mfonobong
Ikot Abasi
