The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone, is aware of the ongoing feud existing between the media teams of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and Governor Alex Otti over the alleged resurfacing and reconstruction of Ohafia-Arochukwu Road. We state that, regrettably, this is not good for Abia, not even the interest of Ndigbo.
Having seen the releases from both camps, COSEYL believes that what is plaguing the South East as a region is more pressing than this, but since history and posterity will not condone silence from the apex Igbo youth group saddled with the responsibility of defending the interest of Igbo youths, we have to keep the records straight.
First, it is regrettable that in Governor Otti’s release dated August 28, 2024, during the flag off of the reconstruction of the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Governor Alex Otti did mention that the road was built by Premier Michael Ọkpara of the old Eastern Region, without mentioning other leaders who have had one contribution or the other in the said road. That statement sounds exclusive and paints a picture of the Governor as only caring about his own self-gratification. Michael Ọkpara, it should be recalled, was the premier before the Nigerian civil war. So it is exclusionary to state, as contained in Governor Otti’s statement, that the road was built by Michael Ọkpara without mentioning others, including during military rule, who contributed to building the road, even though they did not complete the project begun under them.
The question is, did the road lie fallow until Otti came? The Coalition says an emphatic no.
Before Senator Orji Uzor Kalu became governor of Abia State, Professor Chimere Ikeokwu a board member of Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF and Mazi Ọchị Achinivu, a Senior Director, who are prominent Aro sons used their good offices, attracted the Funds for the construction of the project. Construction began under Gen. Sani Abacha but was later abandoned after the head of state then died in 1998. As an elected governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu resurfaced the road in 2002/2003 and later facilitated rehabilitation of the road as a senator in 2017/2018 when he attracted the federal government to the road. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu did not relent, he kept pressurising the Buhari-led federal government to intervene in the road. So saying or trying to exclude Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and others like Dr. Ikeokwu and Mazi Achinuvu from the success story of the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road is a disservice to our history.
COSEYL is aware that Governor Otti awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the Ohafia – Arochukwu road to IAC Allied Technical and Construction Company Limited,
a subsidiary of Rock Result Group, owned by one Chief Ifeanyi Clement Okorie, the same company that worked on Cemetery Road and currently working on Ọmụma Road in Aba whose work, apart from being slow, has been deemed by residents to lacks quality and very speed.
We deem it for the record to state that IAC has no worthy track record or antecedent should merit be the yardstick for selecting biddings. How did a company that has not performed satisfactorily in Ọmụma Road be selected for a crucial road like the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road? Even Governor Otti himself lamented and bemoaned the work done by Rock Result Construction Company, at inspection.
While we do not want to see the two political gladiators engage in media banters or arguments on who did what, we want to keep the record straight by stating unequivocally and fearlessly that as a governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu resurfaced and rehabilitated the following federal roads using international reputable construction companies.
Aba-Owerri Road
Port Harcourt Road
Ikot-Ekpene Road, and
Umuahia-Ohafia Road.
No Administration should relegate the other to enjoy all the praise alone, except where there is evidence supporting claims relating to misappropriation and embezzlement. As a youth-led coalition, we are watching all the South East leaders of today, we are equally keeping performance-based scorecards for all of them; should posterity demand, we will judge all of them accordingly when the time is right. While that has been stated, we wish to remind Governor Otti that the state is still far from breasting the tape.
At the same time, we call on the current government to avoid mistakes of the past and ensure that, in line with fiscal prudence and discipline, all contract biddings are made open, listed and published on the state’s official website for easy access. We also call for due diligence on all preselected companies, especially those executing road and other infrastructure projects, in line with procurement laws, while we call on all elected federal lawmakers to think South East and Abia first as Senator Kalu is currently doing by attracting life transforming projects to the state.
ii is on record that the former Senate President, His Excellency Senator Ahmed Lawan described Senator Kalu as the best Senate Chief Whip ever in the history of the Nigerian Senate because of his transformational and matches performance which till today remains the best.
Senator Kalu used reputable construction giants like Zerock Construction Company, Setraco Construction Company and others for the construction of roads and other infrastructures in Abia when he held sway as governor. One of the roads constructed by Zerock Construction Company is Okpulo Umuobo road which is still standing very strong and has lasted for over 20 years and still counting.
For emphasis, from Ebem Ohafia to Arochukwu covers a distance of 28 kilometres, approximately 18 miles. So why is the current government saying the road covers a stretch of 41.4 or so kilometres? And to the best of our knowledge, we would like to see the letter of award and other papers detailing this because some parts of the road had been done by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Uko Nkole former representative of Ohafia/Arochukwu federal constituency at the National Assembly, remaining only 14.5 kilometres.
Lastly, we wish to remind our political elders that we want to see development brought home to the region, as that is the only thing that can accelerate growth and development. There is no need to foster or sustain rancour, quarrel and bickering when our people are facing imminent threats in other parts of the country where they live and contribute meaningfully.
There was never a time Akanu Ibiam, Michael Ọkpara, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and other leaders of the First Republic fell out openly, even though they may have disagreed on issues. We sue for peace in the fragile region.
Let all parties sheathe their swords and desist from propaganda.
Signed:
Comrade Goodluck Ibem
President General
Comrade Okey Nwaoru
Publicity Secretary
