By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
The Onitsha Unit Coordinator for Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade), Ejike Odife has disclosed that the agency is fully established by Anambra State Government as one of the enforcers of environmental health law.
Odife who is coordinating Borromeo round about, Upper Iweka axis, Bridge Head, Ogbaru Local Government Area and Owerri Road spoke against the backdrop of allegations levelled against him in the social media that he collected ₦30,000 for each person amongst other allegations.
He denied the allegations, saying that it was false and a fabrication to tarnish his image
He further explained that there was no iota of truth in the allegations, adding that it was handiwork of enemies of Anambra State who wanted to undermine the good work of Governor Charles Soludo and Ocha brigade agency.
Odife equally noted that the opposition in the state would never see anything good about the ongoing transformation by Professor Soludo’s administration thereby engaging in all manner of fabrications and lies against someone who is doing his lawful duty.
” I am the coordinator of Ocha brigade in charge of Borromeo round about, Upper Iweka axis, Bridge Head, Ogbaru Local Government Area, and Owerri Road. I was duly recruited by the Anambra State Government and I am working under the ambit of Anambra State law of environmental and open defecation, “he said.
He disclosed that Ocha Brigade agency was established in 2016 under the law of Anambra State which he said prohibited open defecation and urinating in open places. He explained that the law also provided for arrest and prosecution of any offender.
” We never collected ₦30,000 from any individual rather we ask the person to do what the law says if one is apprehended defecating in the open environment. What we are doing is to rescue environment from open defecation and blocking the water drainage system with debris because our Governor has been spending a lot of money to clean the environment.
” However, according to the writer, how can ten persons paying N30,000 each to arrive at ₦3milion naira per a day? This shows that this person is biased and is original fake news peddler, “he said.
He recalled that the appointments of some men of Ocha brigade were terminated recently due to illegal acts, saying that they connived with this fake news peddler because he is related to one of the sacked brigade and started writing rubbish against him.
“They thought I was the one who initiated their sack not knowing that our Managing Director is a no nonsense fellow who doesn’t tolerate any unlawful behavior. So, I am challenging this fake news peddler to come up with proof showing that I collected N30,000 from people. The law stipulated that every defaulter should pay to State government’s bank account which is verifiable to know if it is government’s account or individual account.
“How can someone decide to destroy the character of some other person in the name of politics. Just imagine threatening the second tenure of Professor Soludo not even knowing that Anambra State has already decided that Soludo must come back for a second tenure. I want to ask the fake news peddlers whether they are calling for sack of someone doing well or someone that is not doing well? Go to Upper Iweka precisely and Bridge Head where everywhere was messed up before with urine while government has provided adequate place for defecation and urinating. So, I want to know if these fake news peddlers want Ocha Brigade to stop operating so that Anambra State would be messed up?
He reminded the person that in the national environmental law, open defecation and urinating in open places had been banned even in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK), adding that in those countries, open defecation was regarded as a criminal offense because of diseases it could spread.
“The operatives of Ocha Brigade agency were trained in the manner of handling human beings professionally and that is why we conduct parade and training every Monday. Before they go out to work, they must receive adequate instructions. So, we are not touts but operatives of an agency created by law and recruited by Anambra state government, “Odife concluded.
