It was Maya Angeluo who said that “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
Leadership at every level is an uphill task. Its vision is best defined by the Visionary. A bystander, often, misinterprets the Vision or mistake the Mission. What does a good leader do? He keeps moving- thinking less of the distractions and yielding not to wistfulness, instead, he sticks to his goal.That has been the truism in Ikpeazus doggedness.His stoic disregard to venomous tantrums and his penchant for compassion and tolerance are evidence of a leader that is, in all sense, a Servant-Leader!
With all sense of modesty, Ikpeazu is on the onward stride to the Sunny side of history. The pessimists will argue it but the optimists will believe it.
Why do I say so?
Repeatedly, Governor Ikpeazu has said that he is not interested in short term fame but in building lasting legacies. He came to build-to-last and not for short-lived profligacy! Ikpeazu is interested in Manpower Development, Infrastructural Development, and Agricultural Development. He advances Trade and Commerce, Health, Staff Welfare, Education. Etc.
Has he actualized all of those? No. Has he made remarkable progress on those? YES.
Just recently, the Governor released over 80m naira to six local Government areas of the state for the first batch beneficiaries of the YESSO Public Workfare Programme .The benefitting Local Governments are: Umunneochi, Ukwa, Ugwunagbo, Ohafia Isiala Ngwa(South & North).
The, “Osikapia Abia,” Rice revolution is gaining momentum every day. With the re-invigoration of the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency, there has been massive awareness and patronage of the Rice, both within and around Abia State. The Rice revolution is like the little beginning that will sure outlive the Cynics. Ma ha kwere ma ha ekweghi! (whether they agree or not!)
Abia State has retained the first position in Senior Secondary Examination, while Abiapoly is stabilizing rapidly.
The salary of workers have continued to hit their account before the end of the month, while concerted efforts are sustained to settle the lingering Pension arrears.
Do you still remember the, “Gigantic” -“Elephant”- “Ambitious” …name them… (Those ridiculous incentives you gave it…), Enyimba Economic City project? The PPP driven initiative of the Governor Ikpeazu’s Government? It’s still on course you know? Like all projects of such magnitude it is gradual but steadily recording milestones after another.
“Chere ka ngwa gi…” (Wait let me tell you…) The Enyimba Business Plan just won the First Charter Cities Business Plan contest for 2019 .They beat renowned cities like Blackstone Charter Cities of Australia and Nogorod New Hanse town of Russia who came 2nd and 3rd positions respective. In fact, EEC also returned to Abia with the coveted cash prize of $25,000USD. Odikwanu easy!
As if that is not enough, resulting from the brilliant showing of the Governor and his team in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the Africa Investment Forum organized by African Development Bank (AFDB), AfreximBank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a whooping sum of $430million USD deal was put down for the Enyimba Economic City (EEC) project!
You may not have heard also that The State of Emergency on Waste Management/Sanitation, declared by the Governor, is yielding bountifully. The synergy, between the Ministry of Environment, ASEPA and the Re-Orientation Agency, is bringing positive results. There is more awareness and greater compliance now. The enforcement is also commendable and the cities are cleaner! A mobile court have also been constituted to prosecute offenders! Resulting from the partnership, some drainages in Aba were successfully de-silted and the volume of waste hitherto embarrassing the state have been disposed of.
With the Rains subsiding, the Governor has ordered Contractors to return to their respective sites. From the Osisioma Flyover to the Osisioma —Ekeakpara Road, down to the Ururuka -Aba Road as well as the Old Aba-Ubakala Roads. The Afor Ibeji Umuahia and the Osusu Aba Roads are not exempted. Meanwhile, Arab Contractors are carefully revamping the Aba Road Umuahia with a touch of expertise that is pleasing to discerning eyes. Remember that Arab Contractors are grade “A” list Contractors. The Zero pothole orders are still being implemented while Palliatives on some strategic Federal Roads are still on going. For example, the Uzuakoli-Ohafia Federal Roads and the Uratta Junction,Aba,by Port Harcourt -Aba- Enugu expressway way.
Are you aware that Governor Ikpeazu has just donated 10 hectares of land for the Federal Fire Service Training School? Meaning that once the project is completed our youths can now be trained on Fire Fighting skills. Just imagine!
The Poultry Clusters located at Umuosu, Umunna Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North is indeed a cynosure of eyes .With an Admin block seated on a 3.5 acres of land, the cluster is housing 69 Poultry Pens,42 of which have over 1000 birds each, while another 27 have over 500 birds each. Now, CBN is partnering with Abia State to train 1000 Abia Youths on Poultry farming!
For the first time in Abia State the 2020 budget estimate was presented to the 7th Abia House of Assembly in November! The budget is tagged “Budget of Economic Repositioning.” The implication of the early presentation is that the 2020 financial year will resume by January! This is commendable. The Budget itself is realistic and very promising.
With an anticipated Recurrent Revenue of N106, 944,885,770 in 2020 and the resolve to adhere to the Community Needs Identification Initiative (CNII) -a pivotal item in the Community Charter of demands (CCD),Abia State is sure heading towards full economic emancipation.
All thanks to God and Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu’s doggedness!
Kennedy O. Onyenma is SSA to Governor Ikpeazu on Strategic (Devt) Communications.
22/11/2019.
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