By Dan Ugwu.
Facts have emerged about the decision of Imo State government to replace the metropolitan tunnels with roundabout. These tunnels were visibly constructed by Rochas Okorocha’s government to ease vehicular movement and road safety on the major roads. Last week, Uzodimma’s bulldozers were spotted destroying those tunnels on the allegation that they were poorly built.
Recall that Rochas Okorocha’s government allegedly spent over N240m on those tunnels according to Mr. Collins Ududua; accountant of Kilcornam Construction Company that undertook the project. It is not in doubt that the Uzodimma government will also spend more than that in demolishing and constructing its own choice infrastructure.
It is disheartening and breath taking to watch the various governments in Imo state spend our hard cash on irrelevant ventures. Every regime that comes into the state will always concentrate on the municipal city of Owerri, destroying the achievements of its predecessor in a vicious circle while allowing the city suburbs in their ageless rurality.
The present government says the tunnels are not of good quality. The next positive action would have been either to engage Kilcornam Construction Company and sue them for inferior job OR to invest in fortifying the project for use. The idea of destroying it to build a roundabout is both myopic, wasteful and disappointing.
Today, Imo State has various undeveloped cities a little mile away from Owerri town that could be harnessed for economic development, but the various governments have abandoned them to concentrate on the over-laboured municipal city already constructed by Sam Mbakwe.
During Okorocha’s administration, there were minor scratches along Agbala road but he ended up building Nneoma Kitchen that has been overgrown by weeds and shrubs. Villages like Olakwo Agbala, Mbutu Okohia, Emekuku/ Azaraegbelu, Iho/Akabor and then Oguta could serve as mini cities to decongest the populated town, but no government thinks in that direction.
At the wake of the 21st century when Lagos, Abuja and PH are competing in real estates and the ease of doing business, with Dave Umahi’s Ebonyi turning fortune around, Imo state government is still struggling with roundabout and traffic light.
Anambra state has left Awka to look out for Nnewi; Abia has even avoided Umuahia to commercialise Aba; Enugu itself has its capital as Enugu and Imo is still negotiating with Ekeukwu marketers and how to finish up her Alaba new market in the same Owerri, while Okigwe is struggling with decay. There is an agelong saying about Okigwe in Imo state “Obodo nile emepesigo bereso Okigwe”.
The wasteful attitude of the government in Imo has made pundits even to querry the usefulness of its House of Assembly that should checkmate the excesses of the Executive. They seem to converge at the Assembly quarters to watch over the wreckage and serial wasteful venture of various governments.
It is obvious, that arm of government has been hijacked. It is not in doubt that Imo has been unfortunate with leaders after Sam Mbakwe, but this present government with the high level of ignominy accompanying its rulership cannot afford to thread on negative paths. A stich in time saves nine.
- ScriptCredit: Danugwu’s Hub
Disclaimer: “The views/contents expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of Dan Ugwu and do not necessarily reflect those of The World Satellite. The World Satellite will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article.”
