Memo to the In-Coming Governor on Awka North

By Valentine Obinyem

As the Governor of Anambra State, the first road construction contract Mr. Peter Obi awarded was the Omor-Omasi-Igbakwu highway in Anyamelum Local Government Area. Spanning over 43 kilometres, it was also the first major road that was done in the LGA and it really opened up the entire area.

Obi commenced and completed many other strategic road projects across the State, such as Nibo-Umuawulu-Awgbu-Amaokpala road (over 30 kilometres); roads in Onitsha township, including nearly all within the GRA (over 50 kilometres); Old Nkpor-Ogidi-Umudioka-Abagana-Enugwu-Ukwu-Nawfia-Amawbia road (28 kilometres); Umueze-Anam-Mmiata (13 kilometres); Awkuzu-Igbariam road (over 13 kilometres); Aguluezechukwu-Ogboji road (16 kilometres); Adazi-Nnukwu-Obeledu-Igboukwu road (12 kilometres); Amichi-Ebenator-Ezinifite road (12 kilometres); Azia-Mbosi with spur to Lilu (17 kilometres); Achala Junction-Onitsha Adani road (10 kilometres); Oba-Nnewi road (16 kilometres); Ekwulobia-Nkpologwu-Akpo-Achina road (8 kilometres), among others.

Obi also got approval of the Federal Government and constructed the Nkpor Fly-Over as well as the beautiful road from the Onitsha Bride-Head to Umunya.

Many Anambrarians and observers appreciated the lengths and how strategic these roads are.

Since Peter Obi left office, we hear of the construction of roads of a few metres to 3 kilometres length. This observation is verifiable by empirical data.

One of the disappointments in Anambra State is that other strategic roads Obi started across the State have all been abandoned. Among the most painful are: Amansea-Ndiukwuenu-Okpeze-Amaetiti-Awgbu road; Ogbaru-Atani-Osamalla-Ogwuikpele road (of which Obi achieved 32 kilometres of about 60 kilometres before leaving office); Amansea-Ndiukwuenu-Okpeze-Amaeteiti-Awgbu road and bridge Phase 1; and Mmiata-Nzam road. Despite a press release that incumbent Governor Obiano had completed all the roads inherited from Obi, they are still as Obi handed them over to his successor.

The Amawbia-Amansea Dual Carriageway is another painful illustration of the gross neglect of roads in Anambra State. Obi recognized that that stretch of road put the State Capital in bad light, and he did everything possible to secure written permission from the Federal Government for the State to do that road and be reimbursed. He would have completed it before leaving office, but for the lateness in securing Federal approval. However, he left the funds for its completion, only for his successor to use the money to construct three of the most appalling fly-overs in sub-Saharan Africa.

The other day, I represented my boss at Ugbenu and had to go through Amanuke. How do I summarise my findings? I literally wept. Obi had started the construction of the Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awgba-Ofemili road with some bridges, including the Amansea-Ebenebe Bridge. Before he left office, the bridge segment remained just the provision of side-walks, and that is the state of the facility today. One is left to wonder if the people of the area committed any unforgivable crime against the Present Government. When I passed through Ugbene and asked questions, they lamented that before Obi left, the drainages had been done and earth-work completed – remaining the asphalting — only for the road project to be abandoned till today.

The condition of that road is most painful because Mr. Peter Obi captured it in a special way in his hand-over note, explaining to Gov. Willie Obiano how strategic the road is and why it should be completed. He also advised him to extend it from Ugbene to Urum and Amanuke and from Mgbakwu to Ebenebe; and construct a bridge over the Ezu River between Amanuke and Ugbene , and join the Isuaniocha road to Achalla as the most deserving gift Awka North needs. Completing the circular road would have brought massive development to the LGA in particular and the State in general. The place has a wonderful table land and should be an axis for development.

Peter Obi is human and could not have done everything. His records on road infrastructure are there for all to see.

May I, therefore, request any person that takes over as the next Governor of our dear Anambra State to have this all-important road in his/her agenda. In fact, it should be one of the criteria to secure my personal support. It should be among the first set, if not the first road anyone interested in the sustainable development of the State should complete. There is also link from Ebenebe to Enugu State.

Attached are pictures of the Amanuke-Ugbene road taken as I passed on it as well as the temporary bridge over the Ezu River.