Anyone who provides water for his fellow human beings occupies a special position in the heart of God, the president of Esan Development Union, Matthew Igberaese, has said.
Igberaese made the remarks last weekend in Ontario, Canada when he commended All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate Monday Okpebholo and others for the provision of portable water for the people of Edo Central zone.
Igberaese said those who provide water for Esan people would receive double blessings from God. According to him, “Esan land which makes up Edo Central Senatorial District is located on a plateau. Since creation, water has been a major problem on this plateau even for our ancestors because the place is hundreds of metres above sea level.
“Accessing underground water was always a herculean task and very expensive. Some people have dug boreholes without water. We have had a senator who constructed only two boreholes in eight years and none of the boreholes ever produced water. But Monday Okpebholo has dug about six boreholes in a few months at different locations in Esanland and all of them are providing water for the people.
“When you hear that over 60 million Nigerians do not have access to potable drinking water, Esan people are included in that figure. We commend Okpebholo for committing his resources in the provision of functional boreholes in Esanland.” Igberaese spoke during a summit of Esan people in Canada over the weekend.
In his reaction to the commendation, Okpebholo said it was the need to provide water and other infrastructure like roads that propelled him into contesting for Senate in the 2023 general elections.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have been in the vanguard of ground water as an alternative to surface water which is fast diminishing as a result of climate change. “Water is at the centre of economic and social development to maintain health, grow food, manage the environment, and create jobs. By 2030, universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all has been set as a target for Nigeria. The provision of water has also topped the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs,” UNICEF said.
