Prof Agu Gab Agu, Senatorial aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has promised that if he gets the party’s ticket and eventually wins the Enugu East Senatorial seat at the forthcoming elections, he would ensure that the Federal Government pays reparation to Enugu State for the environmental degradation which the area has suffered due to the mining of Coal deposits in the past. Said he,” if the South South could be adequately compensated for the oil derivable from the region, Enugu and Southeast need to be treated the same way”. Not only that, he would seek the possibility of reopening the mines and all those miners who were thrown out of jobs without benefits paid their entitlements.

Prof. Agu said this in an interview with drumnewsonline.com recently. He said the decision of the Federal Government to shut down the Coal mines without any reason was a disservice to the Southeast and to add salt to the injury, all its assets worth billions of Naira, were sold out to people in questionable circumstances without any benefits in terms of tax accruing to the people.

The senatorial hopeful regretted that the authorities failed to employ best practices as it is done in civilized climes in withdrawn abruptly from the mines without regard to the environmental dangers such a withdrawal could pose to the people. “When they shut down the mines, they didn’t follow the steps that are followed in developed countries of the world, there are steps to be taken so that the mines would not collapse because they had eaten into the belly of the earth and you don’t withdraw so quickly, if you do, they will cave in. And that is what is happening now. They are caving in and we have landslides and erosions everywhere. Nobody, I mean all the representatives, nobody has interrogated the government: “why did you do this to us, is there any restitution or reparations to come?” The law professor promised to engage his colleagues at the red chamber to interrogate the government on the issue for possible reparation.

Agu also said that he would use his position at the Senate to attract investors who could mine limestone deposits which are abound in his zone. And also ensure that the arable lands of Nkanu be put to mechanized agriculture for improved rice cultivation.

On the upsurge of attacks in the Northeast in recent times which are at variance with the claims and assurances of the government that the insurgents had been degraded and defeated, he described the government’s assertions as not close to the situation on the ground. “Look at what is happening in the Northeast, every day we hear that they have been defeated, degraded , that they are not there again and all the rest, while every day we see boko haram insurgents attacking and taking over towns and local government areas. Where did they come from, where are they? You have the air power the foot soldiers, so how do you explain that?

“I am saying that what they are telling us is not in line with the position of things. If that amounts to untruth, let it be”, he concluded.

Professor Agu would be slogging it out with the incumbent senator of the zone, Gilbert Nnaji and the latest entrant into the fray, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, former governor of Enugu State, to get the party’s ticket. However most members of the constituent are rooting for fresh air as all his opponents had at one time or the other occupied the post. They prefer a change in the status quo to try a new hand as the two individuals had not brought the desired change to them. Professor Agu Gab Agu said he was equal to the fight and believes that the constituents who are also members of the party, have the final say and have keyed in to his political advocacy.

Source: Dumnewsonline