Ocha Brigade Among Environmental Law Enforcement Agency, Not Touts- Odife

By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha

The Onitsha Unit coordinator for Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade), Ejike Odife, has stated that Ocha Bridge is fully established by the 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 fabrication to tanish his image 

He further explained that there is no iota of truth in the allegations, adding that it was handiwork of enemies of Anambra State who want to undermine the good work of Governor 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 fabrication of all manners of 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 duely recruited by the Anambra State Government and I am working under the ampit of Anambra State law of environmental and open defecation”

He hited that Ocha Brigade agency was established under 2016 of Anambra State law which he said prohibited opening defecation and urinating in open place, Stating that the law also stipulated to arrest and prosecute 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 drainages with debris because our Governor has been spending a lot of money to clean the environment”

” However, according to the writter, how can 10 persons paying #30,000 each to arrive at ₦3milion naira per a day ?. This shows that this person is bias and orginal fake news peddler”

He recalled that some men of Ocha brigade was 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 no nonsense fellow who don’t tolerate illegal behavior. So, I am challenging this fake news peddler to come up with proof showing that I collected #30,000 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 decided to destroy the character of some other person in the name of politics. Just imagine threatening the second tenure of Professor Charles Soludo not even knowing that Anambra State has already decided that Soludo must come back for second. I want to ask the fake news peddlers, are you 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 this fake news peddlers want Ocha Brigade to stop operating so that Anambra State should be messed up” ?

He reminded the person that in the  National environmental law, open defecation and urinating in open place have been banned even in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) which he said in those countries, open defecation is regarded as criminal law as it causes cholera amongst other diseases.

” Ocha Brigade agency were trained in the manner of handling human beings effectively 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 legalized agency recruited by Anambra state government” Odife concluded.