I am a witness. I was at Aba for three days 19th to 22nd of August 2023.
During the week I attended the burial of a friend’s mother, Madam Beatrice Uleanya at Osusu in Isiala Ngwa North locaĺ government area who died months ago.
The son , Dr. Obiefula Uleanya was my childhood friend as we both attended same primary, Seminary and University.
The burial afforded me opportunity to be home and compare notes with what we read on social media about developments in our State.
I also went to Osisioma on condolence to Hon. Solomon Adealu on the death of our Patriarch.
I noticed one positive development on the neatness of Aba especially the Enugu Port Harcourt express road.
We had waited for the rains to judge the activities of current ASEPA.
It is this period that the median of the high way is usually littered with waste of all sorts generated from consumption of maize (corn) and vegetable (Ugu ) and used cartons .
This deliberate disposal of waste on the road had made everybody in the past conclude that Aba is the dirtiest city in Nigeria.
I was impressed that today, Aba is gradually changing that narrative of being the dirtiest town.
I took time to interview the ASEPA workers , they attributed the new development to current ASEPA leadership of Mr. Ezengwa and by extension the Governor.
He said they were provided with 7 unit’s of tricycle and a bus that combs Umuikaa junction to Aba carting away waste on the median daily and also enforcing compliance on disposal of waste on the road.
Kudos to the current management, we however, expect a fundamental change on waste management by changing focus on conversion of these waste to energy, fertiliser etc. That’s what the (new Abia) should represent .
I also noticed that the much trumpeted Osisioma/ Ekeakpara road is mere audio award.
I saw that little or no job is currently going on by the contractor.
Before now, Okezie Ikpeazu had done one section of the dualized road from Osisioma junction to Sir Adaelu’s junction which is like 200 meters . I discovered yesterday being 21st of August 2024 that the road is still on same spot after all the noise of that road being awarded for reconstruction. I quickly called one of the management team of Willangy Construction Ltd having known the company from my days at Enugu. They confirmed that this present administration has not paid a kobo to them since they were re-awarded that road over 4 months ago .
I ask , why owe a contractor on such strategic road . I feel it will be gratifying to see that road in use with the burial of Sir Adaelu in sight and considering the economic importance of that road which we cant over emphasize. I ask again, Why owe such a contractor with current enhanced allocation .
The burial was Osusu and Uleanya,s compound is immediately after the Okpuala Ngwa General hospital. This gave me the opportunity to walk around the hospital premises and also ask questions. The villagers confirmed that two structures were re- roofed after the workers were redeployed to other locations. That is the much one can see from a compound taken over by over grown grasses which has become natural habitation for reptiles and other crawling things .I was shocked to my marrow as I had concluded that Okpuala Ngwa General hospital, one of the oldest around, would have been wearing a new look with all the stories of retrofitting and all the “Re’s” in this word.
Where are the hospitals that have been renovated and functional. I passed the gate of that hospital over 14 times within the three days I was at Osusu and it was shocking anytime I looked into that hospital.
Where are the funds claimed on renovation and reconstruction of hospitals .
The local government headquarters at Okpuala Ngwa was another shock, except for changing of roof of two structures , nothing fantastic though I noticed they patched some sections of the road that leads to the headquarters .I understand the road was done by Federal government through Hon Dalightion Nwaokocha as part of constituency project. I had concluded that Arochukwu local government headquarters has become a benchmark for all the 17 local governments of Abia state. I was also disappointed that it is still same old stories about our local governments except for few . This makes one to ask, were they given same amount monthly like Arochukwu local government and they diverted it or does it mean Arochukwu was singled out for support and development considering the pictures we saw during the Commissioning of the newly retrofitted ( they love that lexicon) headquarters few weeks ago.
With the current montly allocation of N340m to local governments against N70m of the past , we expect totally transform of these local governments infrastructurally and other wise .
We will keep holding government accountable, We will be objective in our analysis, where we see appreciable improvement, we commend . We need to reconcile social media and reality.
Obinna Oriaku
Ekwedike
