There is no doubt that Abia state with all its God given potentials is backwards when it comes to infrastructural and economic development. It lacks the presence of a government in power. It is a fact today that Abia is the least developed among the five states of the South-East region, also at the bottom of the developmental table of the 36 states of Nigeria. A state with no modern infrastructure to point at since 1999. It is largely painful and disappointing that a learned man, a highly trained citizen of the state, with a doctoral degree can be such a colossal contributor to the state’s abysmal performance. Very sad indeed!
Abia is one of the smallest states in Nigeria. Abia is part of the oil rich states that receives some special derivations apart from the monthly allocation from the Federal Government. There is Aba, a factory cum market in the state that is poorly managed and completely neglected. Sometimes, I wonder why a highly educated Okezie Ikpeazu who is on the driver’s seat cannot organize Aba and by extension the state? For sure, building, organizing and improving infrastructures is not rocket science. There are states that do not have as much financial opportunities as Abia but, with meaningful infrastructural records, economic indices that are opening doors for her peoples. Abia has lots of potentials that if well harnessed will champion the South-East states for economic advancement.
Since 1999, we have campaigned, advised on investment and development of Aba and Umuahia. Aba, for instance, is both a factory and large market that attracts people from all parts of West Africa and beyond. Aba remains a money minting machine for Abia and the South East, if an astute manager is administering. Aba is an advantage that requires government interest and proper management. The traders in Aba are not asking for financial support from government but for improvement of the markets, conducive environment that supports productivity, welcomes investors. The Aba traders are interested in the introduction of facilities in the market to meet with modern time thereby opening more business opportunities. One would expect a thinking governor to develop the markets to accommodate factories (shoe and clothing for example) with modern facilities as seen in other places. Abia should by now have built transport terminals that would accommodate the state transport companies and most privately owned hence controlling the confusion associated with Aba and Umuahia.
If states like Ebonyi, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Anambra and others can build flyovers in the last ten years in their states to decongest traffic jams and bring succor to motorists at some junctions in their states why can’t Abia build flyovers at Osisioma in Aba and, at Umuahia Tower? What have all the present and past governors done with the resources of Abia? What can they show they have done or are doing? It is really, really disappointing that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu deceived the people with a signpost that he is building a bridge at Osisioma but caved in for no just reason. Aba and Umuahia poor condition was the reason, Engineer Arthur Eze complained bitterly when he visited Umuahia under Gov. Theodore Orji. A small town like Umuahia, the state capital is looking abandoned, like a war ravaged city. A visit to Oshogbo, Ado-Ekiti, Asaba, Abakaliki, Awka, Akure, Yenagoa, Owerri, Abeokuta, etc revealed that there were and are still leaders in control. Roads, bridges, bus terminals, markets were constructed. But, it is not so in Abia. Our government before and presently are just empty with developmental ideas. There is the absence of leadership, government in Abia. The State Government House located in Umuahia does not have any tiny resemblance of a state government house like in other states of the federation. It is disheartening!
It is apparently clear that these governors in Abia since inception of this democracy have no blueprint, no interest to develop the state, the reason Abia have become stagnant. There is no sector you can score the government with good marks in performance, not in paying salaries, economic and infrastructural development, environmental management, law and order. As I write some local and state government workers are owed salaries for months, pensioners too. Certainly, this yuletide season is a gloomy one for them. The governor, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu must move, move to save the state from total collapse, he still has about two and half years to make a mark. For now, Abia is at standstill!
*** Written by Uzodinma Nwaogbe / +2347084381845
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