Commuters pray for Uzodimma for Mgbee/Uga road and bridge completion

By Ben Duru

The commencement of commuting through the brand new ultramodern Mgbee/ Ogboko/Urualla/Akokwa highway constructed by the irrepressible governor of Imo State has become a discussion point at most centres and by commuters at every park. They have never ceased to pour encomiums on Hope Uzodimma for the feat that almost led to the submerging of the Obioha community and its environs. The intervention of the present administration is an issue that would remain evergreen in the memory of the people of that community and the motorists that commute through that all-important road to and from Orlu and its environs.

Long before the government intervention, the people of Obioha and Ogboko as well as those of Mgbee had resigned to fate, effectively waiting for the inevitable as the rampaging erosion from the Orashi River had already swallowed the entire road and started destroying the buildings in sight. At the last count not less than 50 well constructed buildings had been destroyed and the occupants had to seek refuge elsewhere. Some of the buildings left threatened included that of a High Court Judge and the entire length of the popular Obioha Market. On the other side of the Orashi River, the erosion was also threatening the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University as well as causing major buildings under construction within the area to be abandoned.

The situation was so terrible that when the Nigerian Guild of Editors visited the area after their meeting in Owerri, but at the time the construction work had commenced effective, they expressed surprised that such monumental erosion site was left unattended to by previous administrations even to the extent that a son of the area was governor for eight years. Some of them familiar with the road lamented the hardship that commuters had suffered trying to navigate through dangerous village roads which in itself were nothing to write home about. Some commuters were left surprised that in spite of the daily robbing and embarrassment on such local roads which were brought to the notice of the previous governments were never attended to and the unfortunate incidents continued unfettered.

Today, however, that road is now zoom zoom and people are joyfully commuting through the road to different parts of the South East without let or hindrance. The Commissioner of Environment and Sanitation Imo State, Hon. Major Ejikeme Emenike who visited the road before the commencement of the intervention was beside himself with joy at the smooth driving that has become the lot of the abandoned road before the Uzodimma administration. According to him “Mgbee/Ogboko road up to Urualla road was something unseen and unheard of. I don’t think that any other State Government or State Governor can embark on such a project. When we visited that site, I was overwhelmed. We were even thinking that no state can handle such a project and only the Federal Government has the muscles to handle such projects.

“But our amiable and award winning governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma in his magnanimity and strong will took up that road, took up that gully erosion and now it has become a thing of the past. I can tell you that the people living in that area are so happy that the governor looked into their heart and showed them mercy by embarking on the road because they were disappointed that their own son could do nothing about it. They have continued to send their appreciation to the ministry, to the governor and so on for that action which has restored the dignity of the area.

“Do you know that a lot of houses had already submerged or were in the process of being submerged including the home of a retired High Court Judge before the intervention by the governor? The market in the area was almost submerged and many residents were already seeking refuge, but when you go there now you see the whole scenery has changed for the better. And because it was done by a very reputable organization, it is built to stand the test of time and the governor had continued the road up to our boundary with Anambra State.

“For me, the whole of the Ideato Nation should be grateful to the governor because if there is nothing else they can remember that the governor has done for them, they should remember the gully erosion and the beautiful road that is now in place in their area. We have also noticed that some areas have the same problem of gully erosion and I am confident that the governor will attend to them in no distant time such as Ugirike and also capture that area to make the people happy. We’re handling the erosion problem in Imo one after the other. Don’t forget that aside from Anambra, Imo is the next in devastating gully erosion in the country and I believe that the governor is on top of the matter and in his magnanimity of thinking Imo first before any other thing; succour will soon come to the affected areas.”

Speaking also on the same issue, a driver who commutes from Orlu to Akokwa Udoka Madu spoke glowingly about the feat that Governor Hope Uzodimma performed on the road and prayed for God’s blessings and guidance on him. According to him there is nothing else that people will remember him for, each time they ply through the road their spirits would continue to speak well of the governor and how he intervened to reduce the suffering of the people at a time when the people had given up hope.

“My brother we thank God and we thank the Governor Hope Uzodimma for remembering this road and completing it so that we can now drive smoothly as we used to do before the road collapsed. When this problem started some of us went to the then sitting governor and complained to him about what was happening. He sent people and even came himself and witnessed the situation. He assured us that his government was going to arrest the situation and that he will construct a bye-pass that will enable movement to be unhindered while the situation is being ameliorated. Lo and behold, he started the bye-pass, constructed another bridge across the Orashi River, but just like every project he embarked upon, the road was done halfway and by unqualified contractors.

“After doing haphazard work on the road, it collapsed even while he was still in office; while the major road which would have been reclaimed had he used the money for the bye-pass there. But today we heap praises on Governor Hope Uzodimma for fulfilling the promise he had to us. I still remember vividly when he inspected this road after many complaints and appeals and he assured me that he will do something about it. We never thought what he had in mind would be this beautiful. Some of us even though he will do the bye-pass because it was going to be cheaper for him. However when we saw the bulldozers and caterpillar roll in and when we saw what he did on the Owerri/Orlu road and the Owerri/Okigwe road, we prayed that the same thing be done also. Today, we are very glad because it is not like the China road we witnessed in the past. This is an excellent road with a lasting bridge done by tested contractors.

“We will continue to pray for him. Anybody that speaks evil of the governor and passes through this road, even if his mouth refuses to speak well, his spirit must say good things about the person that built it. It was constructed from scratch. What I want to ask is that whatever the governor will now do to reduce unnecessary accidents on the road, he should do it to prevent unnecessary loss of lives. We have started witnessing accidents mostly with heavy duty vehicles. Of course you know that there is a university close-by and the students are always plying this road now. So we plead with the governor to do whatever necessary to reduce over-speeding and stop accidents. He is a good man and has distinguished himself very well.”

In his own submission, a commuter from neighbouring Anambra State, Chidi said he was aware when the road was gradually deteriorating and that they had expected the sitting governor then being a son of the area not to have allowed the erosion to fester, but was disappointed that he did nothing and that even the bye-pass he constructed was nothing to write home about. He saluted Governor Uzodimma for embarking on and completing the road in a record time, stressing that this is the mark of a statesman.

“I have been plying this road for over 20 years. I always use this road to come from Anambra to purchase things from Orlu. When it was first done by Achike Udenwa, I was very happy but then it began to deteriorate and became worse under Governor Okorocha. He did nothing about it until it completely collapsed and even the building started sinking and people were packing out everyday. Because of the nature of the road and other things I stopped coming to Orlu to buy things. It was when I was told that Uzodimma had completed the road that I said I should come and see with my own eyes. In fact I am very happy. God bless Governor Uzodimma for completing the road and reducing the suffering of the people that pass through this road. The construction from Orlu to Uga junction is excellent, very solid. The bridge is very strong and we the people are happy. God bless the governor.

The voice of the people is always said to be the voice of God. No doubt the road stands as a testament to imagination and vision fully displayed. The rest is on the commuters to exercise caution and do needful while plying the road so that they can arrive safely at their destination.