The needless politicisation of Gov Otti's intervention in Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene fed road

The needless politicisation of Gov Otti’s intervention in Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene fed road

By Steve Oko

There is no gain-saying the fact that the 51-kilometer Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal road, has for decades, been a nightmare to motorists and commuters alike.

Following years of gross neglect and abandonment by the federal government, the road has rather become a source of constant pain to the people plying the route.

Motorists and commuters have had their fair share of the misery arising from the dilapidated condition of the road which serves as a major link between Abia, South East region and Akwa Ibom State even down to Cross River State.

Students and staff of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), as well as the entire people of Ikwuano, who ply the route almost on daily basis, have equally had their baptism of fire.

Ironically, while the Akwa Ibom portion of the road is in good shape, the Abia axis has for decades, been in sorry state.

The poor condition of the road had resulted into carnages and avoidable loss of lives and property.

Despite public outcries over the nightmarish condition of the road and the misery it had brought on the road users, the federal government had remained adamant over the appeals for intervention.

When it eventually awarded contract for the reconstruction of the road which had almost collapsed at several portions, the project dragged for nearly seven years without progress.

The snail-speed at which the contractor handled the project, was rather very upsetting.

Remedial works at the various failed portions of the road had equally not saved the situation. They only brought momentary relief but the situation quickly relapsed and even got worse.

However, the spirited efforts of some past and serving federal lawmakers from the state particularly Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, and Abia Central senatorial district, to get the road fixed must be acknowledged.

Regrettably, such efforts never yielded the desired expectations apparently as a result of the usual levity with which Government at the centre treats issues affecting the South East geo-political zone.

Only few kilometres of the 51-kilometer stretch were fixed by the contractor ever since the contract was awarded by the federal government about seven years ago.

But following the mounting public outcry over the deterioration of the road and the increasing agony on the people, Abia State Government led by Gov. Alex Otti decided to intervene.

On October 24, 2025, the Governor flagged off the re-construction of 25 kilometres of the road, with an assurance to deliver it within 18 months.

The flag-off ceremony which took place at the Umuahia Timber Shed junction, drew a crowd of people whose enthusiastically thronged to the venue to catch a fun of the historic moment.

The mammoth crowd at the venue and the outpouring of encomiums and goodwill messages from the people including opposition figures were sure indicators that the project was indeed, very dear to the masses.

However, the revelation by Gov. Otti, during his speech, that some unpatriotic elements had attempted to stop the federal government from approving the intervention by the State Government was very shocking and confusing.

Otti had thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting approval for Abia State to embark on the intervention. He also lauded the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, for his supports, but slammed those behind the futile attempt to scuttle his intervention.

The curious audience was bewildered when the Governor graduated his commendation for the Federal Government for, according to him, “refusing to be misled by the petty designs of a few unpatriotic political actors from the State”, who he said, “attempted, but in vain, to scuttle the initiative (the state’s intervention) just to massage their oversized egos.”

Based on this startling revelation, one curiously wonders what the actual motive of “these few unpatriotic political actors” could be.

Whose interests are they really serving? What would be their gain if the intervention were aborted?

Who must have been benefiting from the plights of the road users? Or was it merely for the purpose of political ‘gragra‘ that someone attempted to stop the State Government’s intervention?

Agreed that Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene federal highway is a federal road, but as the Governor rightly argued, the users are mainly the people of Abia.

The poor condition of the road, though a federal highway, was a mockery to Otti’s road revolution efforts around the state capital.

So, it makes no sense for the State Government to fold its arms and watch helplessly while the people continued suffer endlessly.

In his remarks at the event, Otti unapologetically declared that he would not discriminate against any road in the state – be it federal, state or local government road.

He was absolutely correct when he said:“We have since made a resolute commitment that every road that passes through the length and breadth of Abia, whether designated as Federal, State, or Local Government, shall be viewed and maintained to be supportive of our economic and social endeavours”.

According to him, there is no need of dichotomy when it comes to roads, “because the majority of the users are our people who, ply them daily to work or to push their agro-produce to urban markets.”

The economic importance of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal road both to Abia State, its neighbouring Akwa Ibom, and to the entire South East and South South regions, cannot be overemphasized.

It is regrettable that the federal government for reasons only best known to it, had allowed such economically strategic road to remain in a sorry state.

Expectations had also been high in some quarters that the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the neighbouring Ikot-Ekpene senatorial district of Akwa Ibom State, as the Senate President, would facilitate or speed up the reconstruction of the road. But that was not to be!

Akpabio as Governor, a decade earlier, had done so much to put the road in good shape particularly the Akwa Ibom end. But as Senate President, many had expected him to do more especially in view of the fact that many of the road users are his kinsmen.

Be that as it may, the decision of Abia State Government, to intervene on the road, should rather elicit commendation by all, and not needless criticisms by self-seeking politicians.

It sounds funny and ridiculous to hear some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, argue profusely how President Tinubu should be ‘worshiped‘ for releasing more funds to State Governments for projects.

These fellows so eulogise Mr President as if he were dashing the states money from his personal pockets.

Perhaps, the proponents of this faulty argument did not observe the suppressed superior argument that since States are supposed to record more achievements for getting more funds, the federal government, which obviously, is also not getting less, should equally justify its increased allocations.

Is it not rather shameful that the federal government which is the bonafide owner of the road, rather for reasons unknown, chose to abandon its responsibility.

And instead of reciprocating the State Government’s intervention with at least accolades, some overzealous politicians in the name of blind opposition, chose to play to the gallery.

What is rather needed at this point, is collaboration among the various stakeholders for the success of the project in the overall interest of the state.

Public interest, should never be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics, blind opposition or illogical political vendetta.

Abians irrespective of their party affiliations, should leverage their connections and privileged positions to advance the cause of the state.

Is it not time South East politicians learnt from their colleagues from other zones who always place regional interests above party loyalty?

There is, absolutely no justifiable reason to politicise a good intension of the Otti-led administration aimed at ending the ordeals of the people.

Everything is not, and should not be politics. Sometimes, common sense makes more sense than political correctness!