For Abia, it’s a new beginning

Although the new government in Abia State is of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it whole-heartedly believes in the change mantra of the ruling party at the centre. For since the inauguration of the Okezie Ikpeazu-administration on May 29, the governor’s activities have borne the signature of a deviation from the old order.

Past administrations that had presided over the state since 1999 did their utmost best within the ambit of their understanding of governance and focus.

Ikpeazu, who has elected to demystify governance in Abia, is not at war with his predecessors as he believes that had they done all that is needed to be done in terms of infrastructural development, his coming would have been needless; nobody would have known the bundle of ingenuity he is by virtue of his sterling performance within four months in the saddle.

For a governor who believes that change in Abia is a necessity and that to bring the state to the status of his dream, there must be a paradigm shift from the old order- the task of re-engineering must be total.

The governor believes there is a price to pay in order to change the face of the state for better. Like the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who waged a fierce war to make the “Centre of Excellence” truly excellent, bulldozing through slums like Oshodi, Idi-Araba, etc, Ikpeazu has undertaken the onerous task of ridding the state of filth, no matter the cost.

Aba, the Enyimba City, which was neglected for so many years, is experiencing massive reconstruction. At a point, Aba became a quick reference point to a badly run state. Heaps of refuse lined every inch of the way. Some dwellers by sheer impunity went contrary to the city master plan as they erected all manner of structures on water channels, drainages, sewage, etc. For this gross impunity, the city lost its glory.

The same unfortunate story replicated itself in other cities and towns of Abia. Many foreigners and non-indigenes that got fed up with the degenerating condition of Aba, relocated to neighbouring states.

Again, before Ikpeazu’s arrival, miscreants ruled like lords as they established all manner of illegal levies through which they milked the state dry. But the madness has since been stopped and those who were profiting from the illegality are now screaming foul.

Observers say that the re-engineering work is not just happening in Aba, it is also taking place in other senatorial districts of the state.

“While the lovers of good applaud the government, those who believe in playing politics with everything are playing out their mischievous role. They are just being uncharitable in their comments. But Dr. Ikpeazu remains undaunted,” volunteered an observer who craved anonymity.

Reacting to what the government of Abia described as the “ranting of the opposition”, Godwin Adindu, chief press secretary to Governor Ikpeazu, recently said the intentions of Ikpeazu for the masses of Abia are very clear and that these intentions have been very well discerned and appreciated by the public.

“This is evident in the sacrifice being made by the governor to rehabilitate the badly dilapidated infrastructure of the commercial city of Aba. This effort is being applauded by all and sundry except the infinitesimal group that call themselves APGA,” said Adindu.

The CPS pointed out that the demolition of illegal shops, kiosk, fences and buildings that encroach into the service lane and on the roads is being carried out only on the roads where the construction work is going on, adding that the notice to this effect was dully served to the public.

“As far as the government of Abia State is concerned, any structure that contravenes the town planning regulation as regards the appropriate location of buildings and structures is an illegal structure and such a structure must be pulled down by the time the caterpillar gets to the point,” he stated flatly.

Adindu disclosed that so far, the effort of the governor in rebuilding Aba has received widespread endorsement and commendation from residents and visitors alike, adding that people come out to cheer and rejoice as the illegal structures fall to the caterpillars and equally happy that a Daniel has come to judgment, that Aba will be better again.

“There is no selective pattern in the demolition exercise. Nobody is being spared but the contractors on site might exercise their discretion to delay demolition for technical purposes or to allow time for people to evacuate their properties. But, at the end, the structures will still be demolished. What the government is seeking is the greatest good for the greatest number,” Adindu explained.

The chief press secretary noted that Governor Ikpeazu does not see any illegal structure built on top of drainage line or service lane as a property rather he sees it and treats it in the same manner that a farmer sees and treats weeds that grow in the garden.

X-raying the new government in the state, Chibuike Nwokeukwu, a lawyer and former commissioner in Abia State, who spoke with BusinessDay, said a great change has taken place in the state in the last four months.

Nwokeukwu said that massive road construction is on-going in many parts of the state; ghost worker syndrome that was the order of the day in Abai has been done away with; villages have been electrified, among many other immediate pointers to the good governance in the state currently.

He said: “A lot of things have changed since the coming into office of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. One, it can be conveniently said that before now, there were no roads in Aba for instance; so, we cannot say that the roads were bad because there were none in the first place. But upon assumption of office, the present government awarded several road contracts in and out of Aba; and work is going on speedily on all the roads awarded. You know that Aba is a land below the sea level and we have flooding problem every rainy season.

“Since Independence, residents of Aba had never seen big gutters and drainages, today, Aba people are seeing such things, as a new order has returned in the state. What I am saying is that there are big gutters and drainages in Aba since Independence, but people were not seeing them, they have started to see them now.”

The former Commissioner for Rural Development and Environment, and a major stakeholder in Abia project further explained that major roads that had long been abandoned by past administrations in the state are now receiving urgent attention.

“There is a town called Nbawsi, the old road (Ururuka Road) linking Aba and the town, and in fact, straight to Umuahia, the state capital, had for over 50 years been abandoned. That road is undergoing serious construction,” he said.

“Before he assumed office, there were complaints about non-payment of salaries, so he commissioned an audit to determine the real workers in the state. Ghost worker syndrome had been a drain pipe on the resources of the state. The governor has eliminated them. He has also promised that by the end of this month nobody will be owed salary and pension. I have no reason to doubt him because he has fulfilled the ones he promised before,” he said.

“It may interest you to know that all the courts in the state have since resumed for business. Since January 1 this year, judicial workers in Abia had been on strike over unpaid salaries, but today, they are back to work because backlog of their salary arrears has been paid. Again, Abia does not have many judges, but before long, if the proposal before the Judicial Council is approved, hopefully, there will be many more judges in the state. And that will make for speedy dispensation of justice. So, I can tell you that a lot has changed in Abia.

“May I add that before now, it was very difficult to have access to chief executive officers of Abia State, either on phone or having one-on-one appointments. In fact, it was easier to speak with the President of Nigeria than to speak with past leaders of Abia. But, Dr. Ikpeazu is exceptional. He is very accessible. Once you call him, he picks; if he knows your number and misses your call, he calls back. He is really in touch with the people he is leading,” said Nwokeukwu.

 

Zebulon Agomuo