By Uche Nwosu,

Along Umuahia-Bende Road, precisely at Isieke village in Afarata Ibeku, there lays a vast land earmarked for a stadium project during the regime of Col Moses Fasanya now retired. Col Fasanya, assumed duties in August 1996 in Abia State as Military Administrator.

His posting to this God’s state was approved by the Gen Sani Abacha, the then Head of State. On assumption of duties, the Abia Administrator announced that one of the key areas of focus would be the construction of a modern and magnificent stadium in the city of Umuahia.

His reason for that was that the Umuahia Township Stadium did not befit a town that has produced onetime Nigerian Head of State and Premier of Eastern Nigeria. He likened the stadium as a mere playground kindergarten kids which shouldn’t be allowed to exist as a landmark in the city.

And indeed, one year after his assumption of duties, Fasanya made good his promise. With boisterous fanfare, he laid the foundation stone of a modern stadium at Isieke, Ibeku, about four kilometres from Umuahia city centre and about 20 poles from the military checkpoint at Isieke. Its architectural outlay was a masterpiece and a wonder to behold as one watched the outlay. A contractor was reportedly hired and he was said to have started some palliative work on the project.

However, the acquisition of the land and its subsequent conversion to a proposed stadium didn’t go done well with Prince Benjamin Apugo who swiftly challenged the acquisition of the land in court and in military circles in Abuja. Nonetheless, the suit filed at the Umuahia High Court lingered until Col Fasanya was reassigned to the Military Headquarters, Abuja.

Two months after the demise of Gen Sani Abacha, Col Anthony Obi was posted to Abia State on August 1998. He administered the state from May 29, 1999 when he handed over to Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. Kalu to Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji. Surprisingly, none of their governments took special interest in calling for the files and resuming the construction of the proposed Isieke stadium.

See Also Edo Governor, Obaseki Wins Saturday Governorship Poll
Col Anthony Obi didn’t care a hoot; so were Orji Uzor Kalu and his successor, Chief Theodore Orji. Their governments didn’t make efforts to give Umuahia a befitting Stadium, based on a past deal already conceived by their predecessor. None of them thought that Umuahia as a state capital deserved a stadium of international taste and acceptance where high profile sports meets could be held.

Theodore Orji, the supposed son of the soil (using the local parlance) couldn’t care a hoot either. Now, the mantle has fallen on the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu. Would he go the way of his predecessors? A project like a stadium, airport or new Government House will etch his name in the marble of history.

Sadly, the incumbent helmsman, since he became governor, has pursued irrelevancies that have worried critical observers. Would he go out of his ways to hand over any of these projects as patting gift to a state that has produced the likes of Gen Thomas Johnson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, Michael Iheonukara Okpara, Senator Jaja Anucha Wachukwu, Commodore Ebitu Oko Ukiwe, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Professors Anya O Anya, Joe Irukwu, Kalu Ezera, Dr Alvan Ikoku, Dr Nwakanma Okoro, Chief Paul Omerenyia Ururuka and now Dr Ngozi Okonj-Iweala?

Or would he go in the way of his predecessors; arriving, seeing but refusing to conquer? Abians are looking forward to taking possession of any of these high class projects and time to do it is now. The military provided the platform. Would he (Okezie Ikpeazu) take the bull by the horn or continue to laugh himself to scorn?
https://uchenwosu.com/2020/11/28/umuahia-city-stadiumproject-of-1998/