Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Member representing Aba South state constituency, Hon. Obinna Ichita, has mocked the State Government for announcing the award of new state intervention projects, saying it cannot be trusted as it has not executed so many projects earlier awarded.
He threatened legal action against the State Government over many abandoned projects in his constituency.
The lawmaker who expressed disappointment over the inability of the State Government to deliver various important projects it had earlier awarded, argued that it would be difficult to believe that the latest ones would be delivered less than 10 months to the end of the current administration.
Ichita in a statement made available to Ikengaonline said: “The reported award of contract for state intervention projects is sheer subterfuge and a big insult on the collective intelligence of Abia people,” adding that “Abia people cannot fall for such a hackneyed diversionary tactic.”
The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, deputy governorship candidate who identified some of the projects earlier awarded by the incumbent administration but not executed, said Abians would reject the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 polls.
“Abia State Government awarded the construction of Ozuoma and Ohazu roads, up till today the project is abandoned. Abia State Government announced the award of road construction projects in Aba. The Government destroyed people’s houses and bushiness premises. Sadly up till today, the projects are abandoned. Port Harcourt Road and Uratta Road are worst hit despite their economic and strategic importance to the state.
“Abia State Government announced the commencement of Enyimba Economic City. Not only has the Government abandoned the project, but Ukwa land, the location of the project does not have a single presence of government. They are literally cut off from the rest of Abia as a result of bad roads.
“Ntigha Dry Port project and the medical city project announced by Abia State Government are all abandoned and forgotten.”
Hon. Ichita accused the State Government of compounding the woes of Abia traders by failing to rebuild the shops it demolished in some major markets in Aba.
“On the 27th May 2021, Abia State Government announced that they would destroy and rebuild within six weeks, specific line of stalls at Ahia Ohurur market Aba South. It is over a year, yet that project hasn’t been completed. The traders are suffering but the Government doesn’t care.
“Abia State Government demolished people’s means of livelihood at A Line, and C line in Ariaria Market. It promised that construction work would be completed latest on December 5th, 2021. As usual, the work was not completed. This is August 2022, yet the work isn’t completed. In fact, the entire area is so abandoned that it has been overtaken by flood.”
He also lambasted Government for abandoning some key road projects in Aba after commencing work on them, thereby leaving them in worse conditions.
“Abia State Government announced the award of contracts for Ifeobara flood project (off Faulks road) but Immediately the Government received the loan for the project, it abandoned the project.”
He also criticised the State Government for reneging in its promise for a special intervention project to cushion the negative environmental impact of Osisioma fire disaster, arguing that Abians will find it hard to trust the Government again.
“Not only did the Government abandon the bogus project, it has refused to redeem its pledges to the victims of the disaster,” he said.
He said that the assumption by agents and officials of the Government that “the mere mention of award of contract would make the people of Abia to suspend their intelligence and clap for this Government, speaks of how lowly the Government thinks of the people.”
The lawmaker accused Government of using the award of contracts to score cheap political points.
“It is nothing but a feeble attempt to distract the citizens from asking pointed questions about the whereabouts of the funds borrowed from banks for various construction projects and why public schools are converted to private markets in Aba.
“Our people have suffered for so long. We may be compelled to take legal actions against Abia State Government after consultations with the appropriate superior personalities and authorities.”
Responding, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief Okiyi Kalu, disagreed with the lawmaker, saying that contrary to his claims, Government is making spirited efforts to deliver the said projects.
“We are actively rebuilding the markets with one block out of three in Ahia Ohuru (Ngwa road market) already delivered while the remaining two are at various stages of completion.
“Similarly, three blocks in Ariaria Market have gone beyond decking level and we hope to deliver as soon as possible.
“The designated developers for those projects had challenges with funding that delayed the projects but we have supported them to ensure they deliver as quickly as possible. Work is ongoing at the sites.
“It is very important to point out that full trading activities are going on in those markets as we ensured that we seamlessly relocated traders in the affected blocks within the same market.
“Only about three lines out of 57 are currently under reconstruction in Ahia Ohuru (Ngwa road Market) while in Ariaria only about 5% of the entire market area is under reconstruction with affected traders relocated within the market.
“The government phased the work to avoid loss of income by the traders while ensuring that displaced traders are accommodated within the market.
“Permit me to also point out that the images of flooding shared by the same lawmaker and his hirelings concerning Ariaria were taken from the project area.
“The project area is not where trading is currently going on and we are currently pumping out the water to enable the project continue seamlessly.
“It is unfortunate that an elected representative of the people is engaged in subversion and even planning of protests against the government over an ongoing project.”
The Commissioner who accused the lawmaker of inciting traders against Government, claimed he lacked the needed experience to know that unforeseen circumstances could delay execution of projects.
“Unfortunately the said lawmakers has never built anything hence he won’t be able to understand that there are usually unplanned challenges that can delay a project beyond the planned date for completion.”
Chief Okiyi assured that the Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration would deliver on its promises.
