By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo


The people of Abia State especially residents of the commercial city of Aba enjoyed the luxury of good roads for about five years while Orji Uzor Kalu was governing the State during second term. All the roads that were constructed and reconstructed during his first term began to deteriorate during his second term.

The roads deteriorated neither because people prayed thunder, fire and brimstone to destroy them nor because it rained acidic. No, this absolutely was not the case. The roads simply got "rotten" because they were substandard, of very poor materials, of very poor construction works. Yet, executed at a huge financial cost.

At the tail end of Orji Uzor Kalu's second tenure, most of the roads he rehabilitated in his first tenure had become impassable. For peoples and vehicles to pass through them, they must either swim or sink.

When Orji Uzor Kalu was done with his second tenure; having ruled for eight solid years, he handed over power to his Chief of Staff, Theodore Orji.

Governor Theodore Orji, upon assumption of office, took to all media houses both virtual and press media, boasting that he alone understood the problems of Abia State and therefore assured the people that he will solve such problems for their good. The people affectionately watched to see him make good his promises. Suddenly, his first tenure ended without good roads to show as an achievement. The people instead witnessed: one, mounting of construction billboards on roads; two, sending construction equipment to site and three, extreme lies from the pit of hell.

The government told the whole world over the radio and television that all the major roads in the State has been constructed to international standards. Were roads truly constructed? Of course no!

Amidst these lies to the world, the residents of the State both in rural and urban areas could not help, but endure their unexpected shocks. The shocks of the claims of its government that there is no single bad road in the State.

While seeking peoples votes for a second chance, the man currently at the Nigerian Senate representing the people of Abia Central (oh yes, Theodore Orji is at the Senate) lamented that he was caged by his predecessor hence his failures to deliver all his promises. The people sympathized with him. They gave him a second chance. And the man won. He resumed his second tenure and still no single road was constructed yet. Instead, he used the State money for personal aggrandizement.

The people of Abia State resorted to fate. They licked their wounds. They lamented. They cursed. The more the roads deteriorated, the more rampant the crime rates in the State had became. Armed robbery and kidnapping became the order of the day in "God's own State". As a result, many families had to leave the State. Yes, people left. People relocated to neigbouring States of Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra, Enugu and far away Lagos, Abuja as well as aboard. Motor cyclist riders known as "Okada" in local parlance were banned from operating in the State.

And a tricycle known as Keke replaced "Okada" as alternative means of commercial transportation. The people adapted. Yet, the roads by which the tricycles must ply on remained in a very bad shape.

When his second tenure ended, Theodore Orji hand picked Okezie Ikpeazụ to run the affairs of the State from where he stopped. Governor Ikpeazụ, being an Ngwá man, assured his dear people of Ngwá and the entire Abians that his administration shall deliver good governance. He assured that he shall construct and reconstruct roads. He assured that he will transform the commercial city of Aba to an envious city. Promises upon promises, he assured the people.

Truly, Governor Ikpeazụ embarked on a road rehabilitation. Yes, he rehabilitated a handful of roads in his first tenure. He embarked on a road construction. For the first time, the State is boasting of an interchange, now nicknamed "Center Table".

Why the nickname?

But, how durable, standard and long lasting are these roads? How speedily pace are the ongoing rehabilitation and construction works in the State? Is the current Governor of Abia genuinely giving his dear people true dividends of democracy? Let's look ahead.

#AbiaRoadsAreDilapidated