BETWEEN COMPLETING PROJECTS FOR USE BY THE PEOPLE AND ON BILLBOARDS OR PHOTOSHOPPED DRAWINGS: GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI SET TO RETIRE AN AGE LONG IGBO ADAGE

History was once again made by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR as he flagged-off the Reconstruction of not just a nightmare called Road from Ohafia to Arochukwu but to demystify and render stalled an age long Igbo adage, “Onweghi Uzo Esi Aga Aro Di Nfe”. Meaning, ‘There is no easy Road or Route to Arochukwu’. The adage will expire by the first quarter of 2026 or before then.In the words of Chief Dr. David Onuoha Ogba (Bourdex), the Mayor of Ohafia LGA, “The Road leading to Arochukwu have indeed been treacherous, difficult, and at times, seemingly impassable”. Chief Ogba while pointing out the strategic importance of the road during the flag-off ceremony captured it succinctly, ‘This Road, starting from the heart of Ohafia, is more than just a physical path; it is a symbol of hope and progress. It represents the breaking of barriers, the opening of doors, and the forging of new connections that will uplift our communities’. Chief Ogba thanked the Executive Governor for being a jinx breaker who has set out and is committed to silencing and reversing the old adage to ‘Uzo Ezi Aga Aro Adiwo Nfe’The Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti in his remarks questioned successive governments who hid under the pretext of the road belonging to the Federal Government to abandon the people to their fate. He extolled Governor Otti for coming to the rescue of the people of Arochukwu and Ohafia LGAs. In the words on the marble by Engr. Otumchere, ‘This is a Governor who believes that the wellbeing of the people is more important than the distinction between a Federal and a State Road’.Governor Otti in his speech titled, ‘Beyond Road, A Jinx Being Broken’, was deliberate and intentional in describing not only the strategic importance of the Road but the need for defiance to the very old and subsisting cliché, ‘O nweghi uzo esi Aga Aro di nso’, literally translated as ‘There is no easy route to Arochukwu’. Dr. Otti is not a character who is intimidated from acknowledging the records of other leaders before him even posthumously. The Governor extolled the vision of Dr. M.I Okpara who constructed the Road in 1960 as a major artery connecting major cities and communities along the corridors within the defunct Eastern Region and creating windows of economic opportunities. Governor Otti acknowledged the chronology of failed attempts to reconstruct the Road since the mid-1990s. The long suffering communities and people along that stretch of Road are not interested in audio Reconstruction and 60% completion on billboards. They just want to access their villages and homes just like other Abians. They are in a hurry to witness the expiration of the age long adage always spoken in frustration and care less about funds previously approved for the Reconstruction which mysteriously disappeared with nothing significant on ground while Arochukwu is still being accessed through Akwa-Ibom State till date.Governor Otti took the destiny of our people into the hands of the State Government as a recognition that the Road is a Federal Road in Abia State to be used mostly by Abians. He approached the Federal Government and obtained approval to execute the project with a suggestion by the Federal Government for the State to Toll the Road to recover the the huge funds to be used for the project. The approval of the Federal Government whose responsibility it is to Reconstruct the Ohafia-Arochukwu Trunk A Highway is a testimony that the corridor needs Reconstruction and has not been Reconstructed as being claimed on Social Media Spaces by some compromised Leaders.Governor Otti is Reconstructing the 41.4 Kilometre stretch of Road to ease the movement of our people through the corridor, open up the zone to create a new window for investors and achieve integrated development of our dear State. While the entire Abia North was cut-off from the rest of the State, a mammal is busy claiming to have completed 60% of Ohafia to Arochukwu Highway when Umuahia-Akara, Isiukwuato, Akara, Isiukwuato to Abiriba-Ohafia Roads including Bende-Abam-Ohafia Roads were impassable. I guess there was a plan to airlift our people from Umuahia to Ohafia before they can access the 60% ‘audioly’ completed Ohafia to Arochukwu Highway. The 60% completion chorus was popularised at Port-Harcourt Road, Ohanku Road, Omuma Road, Cemetery Road and Now, Ohafia to Arochukwu Highway. It demonstrates the entrenchment of a Government of 60% – 40% Ratio ‘Agbata-Eke’ Contractors with projects ending up on billboards and photoshopped drawings. The State has moved past Agbata-Eke contractors and billboards projects to quality 100% completion of Road projects and Infrastructure. Under Governor Alex Otti, the Umuahia-Akara, Isiukwuato, Abiriba-Ohafia Highway are all works in progress to join with Ohafia to Arochukwu Highway for hazzleless movement across Abia North. The Governor is building Roads for people to access and use in sharp contrast to Roads completed 60% on billboards while even those claiming to have completed the Roads still use alternative route completed by other State Government. Ohafia to Arochukwu Highway will be ready for use on or before the 1st quarter of 2026 and will be accessible to all Abians including those who completed it or 60% of it on billboards but abandoned it on ground

. #Ururu Aja Onyebuchi Ememanka

Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State. 08-09-2024.