By Kelechi Mejuobi…
Most times, as part of my lifestyle, I opt to free myself from the challenges associated with driving cars. Either to undergo mental and physical fitness exercises using my legs or pass unnoticed in the society, I choose to go about my schedules with public transport by abandoning private cars.
Owerri, the Imo State capital and environs are no exception to this peculiar pattern of my movement.
In the course of this particular engagement, I get the chance to feel not just my environment but also the grassroots beats with the associated gauge of public mindset on contemporary issues.
But on this rather special day of pubic bus parole, it was a strange outing as the governance of Hope Odidika Uzodimma, executive governor of Imo State dominated discussions in a passenger loaded vehicle.
In the past, each encounter had always been interesting, revealing and remarkable as it dwelt on the economic crisis ravaging the society, shenanigans associated with religious house operators and other issues of insignificant value one didn’t bother to delve into.
But on this day, I boarded a mini bus from Christ Church/School Road in the heart of Owerri town to Toronto Junction, Urrata in Owerri North LGA of Imo State. Details of what transpired were interesting. From immoral dressing of our youths to continued detention and trial of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kalu, interactions touched on the leadership issues in Nigeria, before focusing on the administration of Governor Uzodimma.
The driver of the commuter bus I joined from the park to my destination was the choir master of a sort who led the songs sang inside the bus on that day as his loquacious approaches to matters he noticed ignited the passengers with divergent contests.
On the driving seat of the commercial vehicle, otherwise known as Keke Shuttle Bus in Owerri, was a middle aged man I couldn’t capture his name. He first started with indecent dressing when a young woman flaunting her uncovered sensitive parts of the body passed our parked vehicle. Apparently not guiding well what she had on the chest region with at least the usual bra, which let go her breasts bouncing in very uncontrollable manner as she walked, the driver asked us to just have a look at her. The slashed shorts she wore, I learnt is called “bum shorts” revealed body contours of her laps and uncovered hips that should not be for all eyes caused the driver to make an exclamation in Igbo “Tufiakwa” The damning exposure couldn’t escape the prying eyes of the driver and other passengers but it was the driver voiced claiming the world is gradually coming to an end if women not longer dress responsibility in public scene. Well that is a story for another day.
For about 25 minutes we waited for the pre movement formalities, the driver used the indecent dressing as topic in the bus. Those present in the bus which was about to move simply condemned the appearance before the driver again tried to find out the fate of detained Pro Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kalu, facing treason charges clamped on him by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Nnamdi Kalu preamble didn’t attract much attention as non of the passengers made any reasonable remark to engage him further in the discussion. Before we could approach the MCC/Whetheral Road Junction, the driver launched another topic which centred on Uzodimma’s administration.
Similar to what one expects from an uninformed commentator on socio- political and economic issues in such peculiar set up, the driver was careless with words and spoke freely in the usual motor park gutter language. While trying to twist facts and cast aspersions on the style of governor’s administration, an advanced woman on the front passengers seat cut in to debunk the driver’s narrative. The woman was of the view that Uzodimma has done well, at least in some areas. She was of the view that the number of roads including the major roads in the state constructed since 2020 Uzodimma came into power are enough testament to give him a pass mark in office. She made reference to the MCC/Urrata road which she said was in bad shape years ago before Uzodimma came into power. According to her, the road was in bad shape and she left her family house in the location for her daughter’s house in New Owerri area until Uzodimma fixed the road forcing her to return. Another passenger who had been making cynical remarks while the woman commended Uzodimma with her remarks barked at the elderly woman in a rude manner. His deafening shouts plunged at the woman caught my attention and tried to extricate me from my initial philosophical calmes when the driver initiated the comments from the park. He went further to shout at the woman stop her lies, yelling; “Owu ashi, ashi ocha” (lies and barefaced lies) He thundered inside the bus like one stung by the views of the woman. A mild verbal warfare commenced immediately and I was the only person that maintained “observation posture” inside the bus. The scene was indeed another round of “people’s parliament” on what Uzodimma has done since he came into power especially, the road sector.
The contending parties were unrelenting in their arguments for and against the governor as both stood their grounds. I had to come in when one of those against the Governor said that what annoyed him more was the claim by Uzodimma that he has done the greatest number of roads in Imo State than any other governor during his state of Imo address last week. At this point, I had to join the fray and there was rapt attention when I called for order to allow me speak. I told them that I wouldn’t serve as a judge in this matter, but I can’t keep quiet not to say the truth in the midst of misconception. about the matter. I informed that we may not agree to the divergent submissions posited inside the bus but shall leave with a better knowledge of what the governor has done since 2000 he came into power to appreciate his giant strides in the road project sector. parties involved left better informed.
And I started my submission with a personal incident I had while driving from Abuja to Owerri in December of 2023.
I informed them that the incident drew me close to appreciate what the governor has done so far in the road construction.
And the story goes this way; while I relocated to Abuja and sojourned for a while without touching down to Imo State through road network, my return for the 2023 Christmas festive was greeted with one of the signature projects of the Imo State governor I would describe as a outstanding landmark, even the governor’s sworn enemies wouldn’t hesitate to appreciate.
In late December of 2023, I decided to be home for the yuletide season with one of my cars from Abuja to Owerri. Though it was a tortures journey in the face of bad roads and threatening insecurity meandering from Abuja through Kogi, Benue and Enugu states before I got to Okigwe road express. Oblivious of the fact that the Owerri road to Okigwe had been reconstructed and put in good shape,I contemplated sleeping in Okigwe town since it was late to continue the journey to Owerri from Okigwe based on time of the day. Time was 19.00 hours. I reasoned that with sunset facing me and having not used the road for some years, it might be a huge risk to use the road at night. While I parked on the Okigwe Road to Owerri searching for a nearby hotel to pass the night and move the next day, I noticed vehicles of popular transport companies zoomed past me with astonishing speed. I peeped through the window of my car and asked a passerby if the vehicles that passed were headed to Owerri. The source nodded in affirmative. When one of the popular company hummer buses sped passed freely, I had no option than stamped my feet on the throttle pedal and followed the car. I noticed the bus was moving with incredible speed indicating smooth surface to accelerate. With reserved trepidation, I moved on and noticed that the road even had street lights; what a heartwarming development. At a point on the road trailing behind the bus, I was tempted not to continue while nursing fear that I might be on the wrong road to Owerri since I have been a regular air traveller to and fro Abuja for years.
Few minutes after getting past Umulolo, outskirts of Okigwe I saw Umuna sign post, before Okwe and Okwelle, all in Onuimo LGA of the state. Having found myself in Okwelle to Anara road I called my family to inform them I had cancelled plans to sleep in Okigwe. That was how I found myself in Owerri within 40 minutes drive of touching Okigwe end of the Enugu Porthacourt Express road from Abuja. The magic was courtesy of Uzodimma’s construction of the road.
For writers in our mould, let the truth be told irrespective of partisan proclivity. Political inclinations shouldn’t shape our assessment of events in the society. While one can’t stand in for any political office holder found wanting in the course of discharging his or her duties in governance, efforts of our leaders in reshaping the society for greatness need to be appreciated.
The about 48km Owerri-Okigwe road had been a nightmare to road users in the past which previous governments never found a solution to it before the Uzodimma’s magical touch.
I stand to be challenged in this aspect and can vividly indicate that only those opposed to development of mankind will fail to give Uzodimma a pass mark in this sector.
Residents of the state and road users familiar to this terrain won’t forget in a hurry, the horrible state of the very important Owerri-Okigwe access way that cuts across six LGAs. Very disheartening was the Ekemele Akabo side that was nightmarish to commuters. Okwelle to Okigwe was hell to undertake with any vehicle. At a point, road users coming through Enugu end of the Okigwe Road passed through to Umuahia, Abia State capital on the Enugu Porthacourt highway before getting into Owerri. In the past it took three hours from Okigwe to Owerri, if the vehicle manages to navigate the potholes, but the coming of Uzodimma now reduced it to not more than 40 minutes.
Before the Owerri-Okigwe road came the Owerri-Orlu road. Signs that the governor has people-oriented policies on road construction manifested when he took on the crucial Owerri to Orlu Road. A previous administration before Uzodimma made a mincemeat of the road in the name of dualisation. But a very serious minded government under the present Governor not only gave it a standard touch but also adorned it with pleasant Street Lights that make driving on the road enjoyable. The about 48km Owerri Orlu road Uzodimma constructed with street lights covers Owerri North LGA towns of Akwankuma and Amakohia, Mbaitoli, Njaba and Orlu LGAs. Unrelenting in giving Imo people impeccable legacy in road construction, Uzodimma has moved the construction company handling the major roads in the state, ( Cranenburg) to the almost deserted Orlu to Akokwa road extending to the boundary between Imo and Anambra State. The topography of the Orlu to Ideato area and erosion prone nature destroyed the road network making it difficult for movement. But a recent check when I accessed Ekwulobia enroute Awka in Anambra state through the road shows that work is in top shape and what the construction company has been doing is a far departure from the sham put in place earlier by one of the Uzodimma’s predecessor in office.
In a bid to give all the zones a feel of his road revolution, under the 3R mantra, Uzodimma moved to Owerri Zone. Recall that while the Owerri to Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe roads can be said to be for the two zones, Owerri to Umuahia covered the heartbeat of the Imo East Senatorial District with Owerri North, Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo LGAs of Okigwe Zone getting a feel of the governor’s touch. As if that was not enough to fix roads connecting Imo State to neighbouring Anambra, Abia and Enugu States, the same Cranenburg has been awarded the contract by the Imo State Government to fix the Owerri Porthacourt Road up to the boundary with Rivers State. The Federal Government which handled the project through Arab Contractors abandoned it half way which left the road in ruins making it a discomfort journey to move to and fro Porthacort. LGAs like Owerri West and Ohaji/Egbema are covered in the said network. Already work is on at the place with the damaged boundary areas receiving attention. I can’t also pretend to be unaware of the airport road from Owerri-Aba road named after President Tinubu. From a single lane, the Uzodimma administration dualised it for good.
Getting into the state capital and environs, the novel fly over project at Assumpta Cathedral Roundabout by Control Post is nearing completion while the Orji Amakaohia flyovers have been fixed and put into use. Recall that the one tenure administration of Ikedi Ohakim started the Orji and Amakaohia flyovers projects on Okigwe and Orlu roads before that of Rochas Okorocha inherited it. But the distasteful jobs couldn’t allow motorists use the roads after engineering regulatory bodies warned about the possible collapse if not fortified. A recent ride to the flyovers shows that they are now available for public usage, many thanks to the governor.
Space may not be enough to accommodate other major roads the governor of Imo State did since 2020 he came into power, but he undoubtedly deserves thumb up.
I can only add that the governor needs to do more since his predecessors couldn’t reach the mark he has executed so far.
There is need to remind the governor of the existence of some important roads in the state that have remained a death trap for years even before he dreamt of becoming a governor.
More important among these are the Ring Roads in the state designed to ease movement and decongest the state capital of vehicular traffic. There is a road that cuts from the Afor Ogbe end of Ahiazu Mbaise into some Mbaise communities like Oru, Obohia to Ugurike, Amaimo, Inyishi and Attah towns of Ikeduru LGA. It moved from Ikeduru to communities in Mbieri before touching other parts of Mbaitoli LGA to Onitsha road on Owerri Onitsha Road. Not forgetting another ring road from Umuokanne in Ohaji/Egbema LGA to Futo Road of Ihiagwa-Nekede and Naze-Timber Market before reaching Egbu by Road Safety junction. The same road continues to Urrata by Toronto and Orji. Indeed, some parts of these roads have been touched and rehabilitated by the present administration but there is need to fix all parts to ensure smooth sail. More disturbing is the Ihiagwa-Obinze route that had been in the radar of the present administration since 2020. Residents and people of Nekede Poly Ihiagwa Road may not forgive Uzodimma if he leaves office in 2027 without fixing the Ihiagwa Obinze brigde and road after contract for the road had been awarded and former President Mohamadu Buhari commissioned the first phase of the project few years ago.
There is also need for the present administration to fix one the damaged bridges linking the old and new Owerri called the Fourth Inland Bridge. Due to poor execution of the job by one of the former administrations in the state, the improperly constructed bridge linking Emmanuel College end of the new bye pass from Warehouse Junction to Nekede Old Road collapsed over three years ago and nothing has been done on it for public use. It has remained not just an eyesore, but a sad reminder to poor execution of road contracts of a past governor in Imo State.
My review would have been incomplete without talking about the crucial road that stretches from Okpala on Aba Road crossing parts of Aboh Mbaise to Eke Ahiara junction in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA to Aba Branch junction in Ehime Mbano. Few months ago, I saw hell connecting Eke Ahiara junction from the Aba Road. Some parts had been overtaken by flood which forced commutters to seek alternative means through the bush paths.
In view of the development of satellite towns near Owerri, the state capital, rebuilding access roads to World Bank Housing Estate to Umuguma and Okuku areas as well as Irete, Orogwe, and Ohii,all in Owerri West including Urrata, Naze, Egbu and Awaka towns of Owerri North LGA surrounding the municipality will decongest the old Owerri city. One of the roads Uzodimma handled on assumption of office was the Control to Wordbank Road but at the moment the road is in a mess. Too bad to discuss. I don’t want to also talk about the adjoining roads in World Bank last Roundabout that remains a death trap to users.
What I think the governor needs is commendation on the roads done so far and reminders on the ones that needed to be fixed for the good of the people of the state.
By the time I ended my sermon on the bus about the 3R road revolution of Uzodimma, the case was settled with the congregation better informed. It became a case of “class dismiss, and away” when majority of us got to the Toronto- Ekemegbuoha final bus stop where we alighted for the driver to continue another round of movement back to town with fresh passengers.
