By Osteen Ejiasa
Ndoki, my beloved Ndoki. You are the heart that pulls me home, the land where my spirit soars in full expression. My cherished homeland, where every visit fills me with pride. If time and fate allowed, I would be here all 365 days of the year. If circumstances aligned, I would return for good, without a moment’s hesitation.
And so, just over a week ago, I set out once more, eager to reconnect with my roots. From Port Harcourt, I started driving homeward, unsure which route to take—Obehie or Afam. I chose Afam, not only for the familiarity and chance to see my people on that side, but to witness firsthand the state of affairs along the road—from Okoloma to Umuagbai, before veering off towards Akwete.
To my delight, it was a smooth and enjoyable drive. The roads were freshly laid with asphalt. Electricity seemed abundant in every home, with light bulbs dangling from trees and even plantain stems, shining in daylight. Though wasteful in my opinion, it was a sight that filled me with hope. Energy, for once, was in excess. How this excess will be sent to the Ukwa East part of Ndoki remains a mystery yet to be unraveled.
What’s more, there was hardly a single pothole in sight along the entire stretch. The roads, once riddled with treacherous spots, especially from Umuosi through Obeakpu to Mgboji, had been restored, thanks to the efforts of Rep. Nwaeke as I was made to understand.
Yet, as I approached the Utugbu bridge in Akwete, my heart started to sink. A deep gully marked my entrance into a land weighed down by neglect. The bridge, old and weary, strained under years of pressure, on the verge of total collapse if left unattended. The water below was a sight of sorrow—brown, perhaps yellow, or a mixture of both, tainted by oil spillage and illegal artisanal refining. No one should eat from its poisoned depths, if indeed life remains. Swimming in it is a peril no one should endure. I stopped, as I always do, to greet the soldiers guarding the oil installations, exchanged a few words, took photos, and resumed my now heavy-hearted journey.
No one knew I was coming. Not even my dear mother in the village. I had no guidance on which route to take within Ukwa East, preferring to discover it myself. And discover I did. The first challenge came just in front of Chief Okere Eruba’s house—let’s call it Phase One. I narrowly navigated the path, dodging a truck that showed no regard for the gully beneath it or the danger it posed.
Then came Phase Two, in front of Hon. Uzoma Abonta’s house. Here, the gravity of my decision became clear. The looks from bystanders and motorcyclists spoke volumes—why had I come this way? I chuckled, whispered a prayer for Ndoki, and pressed on. My SUV, sturdy and resilient, bore the strain of the road, but it wasn’t easy. Still, I was determined not to turn back. If my car were to get stuck, so be it. By some grace, I emerged from Phase Two unscathed.
But the worst was yet to come—the stretch in front of our own local government council. The seat of power in Ukwa East. Words fail me to describe its state. Endless trucks rolled through, grinding the earth into an impassable mess, deepening the scars on the already battered road. When I finally escaped, I offered another prayer—this time for the nation.
Upon reaching home and recounting my ordeal, I was met with a chorus of rebukes for not asking for directions.
During my stay in the village, I have reflected deeply on the state of things and have concluded that this is not a time to cast blame or engage in divisive finger-pointing. We must come together as one people, casting aside pettiness, bitterness, and personal agendas. Now is the moment to pool our resources and tackle this beast once and for all.
We need our roads fixed!
Senator Abaribe, who has represented us for over 16 years and is my grandson in Obohia-Ndoki, must be contacted with urgency. We need to feel his impact in Ndoki. It is not enough to play the “nwanwa card” during campaigns. As a ranking Senator, he is expected to have reasonable access to those who can fix this road. He must collaborate with Rep. Nkwonta, Hon. Okey Kanu, Hon. Obianyi, and Mayor Nwagbara. Together, along with our other brothers in government, they must approach, in unity of purpose and with every sense of seriousness, every office responsible for fixing that road—including Minister Umahi and Gov. Otti—and secure immediate solutions.
Senator Wabara should also use his influence to support this effort. Ambassador Emuchay must leverage his Ohanaeze brotherhood to ensure Minister Umahi and Governor Otti address this road, and address it once and for all.
All hands must be on deck, all pressures maximally activated and applied.
There is so much more I wish to say—about electricity (or the lack thereof), the hardship weighing on our people, the decline in agricultural production, the idleness and lack of youth engagement, the near-death of commerce, the lack of healthcare killing our people daily, and the rising insecurity plaguing Ndokiland. But those are matters for another day.
Let Akwete – Obhohia – Azumini – Akirika roads be fixed! And let them be fixed NOW!!!
Osteen Ejiasa, Leader, The Rebuild Ndoki Movement & Advocate for Good Governance, wrote from Obohia-Ndoki, Abia State.
