PORTHARCOURT, OHANKU ROADS CAN PASS OFF AS NARROW ROADS “APIAM WAYS” only in the psyche of lunatics: A rejoinder to a serial liar, JOHN OKIYI KALU.
By Ctz. U. N. UKOHA
“If you cannot see, at least you can hear, The first deserves to be celebrated – Abia is the first State in the entire Southeast to fund a project executed by the construction giant, Julius Berger” – Ctz. U. N. UKOHA (2025).
My prodigal brother, John Billion believes that rolling in the muck is the best way to get clean. I will refuse the temptation of mistaking him for a pig. However, if his case has worsened to a point that an elephant has become an insect in his eyes, I will advise the Psychiatric Doctor handling his case to triple the dose of his injection.
What was the hullabaloo about the commissioning of completed projects in Abia State by Mr President? Is it not achievement enough that Governor Otti has tackled Abia’s infrastructural and social challenges to the point that the only pressing challenge left is to bring the President to the State?
A working or State visit by a sitting President is a big deal, but good governance is not measured by mere Presidential visits but by the extent to which the infrastructure serves the welfare of the people. The President ably represented by his Minister for Works has come and gone but the completed infrastructure will remain to serve the people for years even beyond the tenure of the President.
I had mentioned earlier in the year that we were dealing with a few lunatics on the loose in Abia State in the guise of displaced desperate opposition elements and some concerned people at the time urged me to name them. The one-day visit by Mr. President ably represented by the Hon. Minister of Works to commission life-changing projects and infrastructures completed in Abia for use by the people has exposed the identities of the few rampaging lunatics
In the 24 dark and locust years of Abia State, projects were commissioned by different Presidents but I can point out the commissioned projects and allow the undisputable King of Liars, John Okiyi Kalu to point to the gigantic and legacy features of the said projects.
In the year 2000, President Obasanjo commissioned Roads in Aba under Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. It is for JOK to show Abians the gigantic legacy of the road projects. In 2009, President Jonathan commissioned the Ossai Road, Umuahia under Governor T. A. Orji. JOK must show the gigantic legacy of the project to Abians. In 2019, President Buhari commissioned the 9.5MW Ariaria Independent Power Project, a Federal Government Project, licensed by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), funded, constructed, and to be operated by Ariaria Market Energy Solutions Ltd. (AMES) under the Rural Electrification Agency’s Energising Economic Initiative (EEI) with zero funding from Abia State Government as claimed by the undisputable King of Liars, JOKe. It is for the intended 37,000 beneficiaries at the Ariaria International Market to confirm if the said commissioned project is powering their businesses or was a scam in disguise as they continued relying on power generators to drive their businesses.
Governor Otti reconstructed the very strategic Ohanku and Port-Harcourt Roads abandoned for more than two decades. The reconstructed Port-Harcourt and Ohanku Roads corridors are beyond just roads. They are hope restored, opportunities expanded, creativity reinvented and economy reimagined. The two strategic roads have resurrected over 5,000 moribund SMEs and opened up the pathway for thousands of new startups. Both roads link Aba South to Ugwunagbo, and Ukwa LGA. The Roads ease entry into Aba from the Garden City of Rivers State and other parts of Rivers State, opening Abia markets for Rivers and Bayelsa States.
Abians had experienced enough of JOK’s mischief and short-sightedness, and would rather excuse his kinsmen to sort out his obvious madness. As one of his kinsmen, we are just doing what is expected of us. In the words of Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, “Kirikiri Ana Agba Onye Ara bu Ka Akpa Ya Eriri”. It is our duty to tie him down to take his injection and we cannot disown him, not even now.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA is Chief Press Secretary to Executive Governor of Abia State
