By Onyebuchi Ememanka
Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu says that his administration will complete the Abiriba Ring Road and promised to donate by next month, 150 units of Solar Powered Street lights for installation along the main road leads into the Abiriba Community.
The Governor stated this today while addressing the 2nd Town Hall Meeting with the Abiriba Community in Aba held at the Abiriba Hall, Jubilee Road, Aba.
The Governor also stated that the State will soon take delivery of a tunnelling machine to be deployed for the Aba flood management project. The machine will handle underground tunnelling and stormwater management around, Ngwa, Portharcourt, Ohanku roads and environs.
The Governor disclosed that the underground work to be done in the area with the tunnelling machine measures 17 metres beneath, hence, no building in the area would be pulled down as a result of the work.
The Governor, who informed that his decision to solve the flood water problem of the area permanently is to build solid roads, assured that his successor would no longer need to reclaim the area and maintained that he would do more roads in the days ahead. He revealed that his administration would build a health village at the Aba General hospital premises and informed that over 600 classroom blocks have been built across the state while model schools have also been constructed to boost education in the State.
The Governor also directed the Commissioner for Works to visit the Igbere-Abiriba erosion site and report to him for remediation work to be done. Governor Ikpeazu commended the Abiriba people for their sustained support to his administration and their contributions to the State economy describing them as true representatives of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo nation and pride to Abia State.
Governor Ikpeazu used the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Hon. Ossy Prestige, who he described as his ally and made a donation of 10 million nairas in support of the education of his children. He urged the Aba community to support the PDP candidate in the forthcoming bye-election.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu said the Governor has achieved a lot in many facets of the economy including security. He noted that Abiriba people are beneficiaries of the Governor’s policy thrust, adding that the Governor is ensuring that businesses are thriving in the State based on the aggressive promotion of Made in Aba and SME development.
In his speech, the Minority Leader and member representing Aba Central at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Oba thanked the Governor for reconstructing many roads in his constituency, including Ukaegbu, Ehere, Egege, Ebenma, Milverton roads among others and asked them to hearken to whatever request of the Governor for the Abiriba community in Aba North & South Federal Constituency. Also, the member representing Ohafia North at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mandela Obasi saluted the Governor and enjoined his people at Aba to give support to Ngwa people, in whose land they have succeeded in various businesses
The Executive Chairman, Ohafia LGA, Dr Okoroafor Ukiwe and his Aba South counterpart, Mr Clinton Ebere expressed joy that the Governor is doing various roads in Aba which is assisting in the businesses and economic growth of the people.
In their various speeches, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Mobilization, Chief (Mrs.) Nnenna Obewu-Onwuka and the leader of PDP in the Abiriba clan, Chief Mba Ukariwo appreciated the infrastructural development of Governor Ikpeazu said they appreciate the love the Governor has for the Abiriba people and assured the Governor of their sustained support.
Earlier, the President, Abiriba Communal Improvement Union, Chief Nduka Agwu Onuoha commended the caterpillar revolution of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in Aba, which has impacted positively on the businesses of Abiriba people living in Aba and appreciated him for identifying with the clan in the meeting and said the meeting was held in Aba as Aba is the entry and exit point of Abiriba people hence the choice of Aba for the meeting.
He pleaded with the Governor to complete the ongoing construction of Abiriba ring road as well as drew his attention to the erosion menace along Igbere-Abiriba road.
