Ikechukwu Iroha
After election, a leader either faces the task of leadership or jettison it to prepare for the next election.
Preparing for the next election comes in phases ; first phase is to jumble programmes aimed at entertaining citizens since human beings love drama and will continue to applaud any dramatic personae.
Furthermore, while preparing for election, one can easily move into new roads, spend few days, pull down houses, conclude earth works and boom, asphalt the road. We love drama. Do not blame us, we want it so fast and sharp like a shot in the back.
Ikpeazu wants something different for the people of Abia State. He was faced with two options ; to do that which is right or choose the one that is convenient as any other election conscious politician..
It was actually convenient for Ikpeazu to work on faulks road within a space of 5 months maximum, get the road fixed with asphalt. It was also convenient for Ikpeazu to pay no attention to the flooding at Aba road in Umuahia so that the road can be fixed within 3 months and Abians will clap.
It was convenient for Ikpeazu to asphalt Onme street without considering that the road prior to his administration defied every measure to make it last beyond a single rainy season.
It was cheaper for the Governor to build Nkpa road, Abiriba-Nkporo road and Ugwunagbo road without drainages. It was easier to paint Enyimba Stadium so that the two times African Champions can enjoy home matches in a newly painted field. In all, these places would’ve been completed while Abians will clap at the drama. After the rainy season, we will start battling with flooding and maintenance on roads that are less than 2 years.
Only a politician that is more interested in election than the good of the State will take up roads in Abia without considering their life span.
At PortHarcourt road that is coming with six lanes, the government engaged Setraco construction company to find a lasting solution by creating water channel so as to put an end to flooding problem that made it difficult for residents and investors to manage their investments.
Aba has a history with flooding. To make matters worse, houses were built on water ways thereby making it difficult to create a path for water to flow freely. Drainages were blocked which ended up creating artificial dams in most cases.
The famous axiom that ” Nwa Aba ga aru Aba” meaning, it will take an Aba man to fix Aba, authenticates the fact that only an Aba indigene who understands the history behind these roads will be able to fix them.
Ikpeazu as Nwa Aba has never disappointed the people that gave him the mandate to fix Abia, that is why he made sure every new road is built with drainage on both sides to control flooding.
At Faulks road, it took extra planning to create an artificial lake that collects water from all parts of Ariaria, which eventually will travel through a 6.5km pipe to waterside to control flooding in that part. Recall that the road since 1985 has been a case for every previous government till the final solution by Ikpeazu’s administration through Setraco construction company.
Omne street has survived another rainy season same with Ukaegbu, Umuola, Echefu, Kamalu, Umule, Tonimas and Ehere roads.
Due to Aba soil texture, Ikpeazu found the need to introduce cement pavement technology to enhance quality of roads in Aba. He pays attention to details. Such engineering masterpiece is being replicated at the Aba road in Umuahia where flooding at the busy entrance to the State Capital has been permanently handled by ARAB contractors.
Ikpeazu’s administration is maintaining 5 grade A contractors on Abia roads with several indigenous ones handling several projects concurrently.
With the level and quality of work going on across the State, no road will be visited in the next 15 years. The Umuagu erosion control site at Umuahia qualifies as one of those places the Governor has shown class.
Ikpeazu is building roads that are key to Abia economy. Government’s resolve to connect Abia to neighboring States through network of roads will lead to regional integration.
It was cheaper for Ikpeazu to buy shoes without considering sending Abians to China to learn automated shoe making since shoes and garment business are owned and controlled by private individuals.
It was cheaper and more convenient to run local government with transition members than going into the hurdles of Campaign, Primaries and then to local government elections proper.
In all, Ikpeazu has proven to be a leader than a politician who cares only about elections.
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