Ikpeazu's economic drive and Buhari's promise of rebuilding Aba, By Ebere Uzoukwa

During the campaigns that marked the historic 2015 general
elections, President Mohammadu Buhari as then presidential
candidate of the All Progressives Candidate(APC) stormed the
commercial city of Aba to canvass for votes and support for his
presidential bid.

He came in the company of some notable APC
leaders and governors including Governor Rochas Okorocha of
Imo state and Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra state
and currently the minister of Labour and Employment.

Before the Aba campaign tour, deplorable and decayed state of
the famous Enyimba city hitherto prided the economic nerve
center of the south east and south south and China of Africa for
the ingenuity of the people, had became tropical as governorship
candidates and their political parties unveiled different blueprints
and made promises towards rebuilding the city if elected into
power.

Interestingly, both presidential campaigns in Abia and the state
governorship campaign messages were centered on rebuilding
and providing basic infrastructural amenities to re-position Aba for
increased economic activities and enhanced revenue generation
for the state.

Undisputed, Aba was out-rightly neglected by the past
administrations a major factor that led to the collapse of the inner
and outer roads and other public infrastructure. Wastes routinely
dotted all over the entire environment and literally took over the
city, blocked the well planned drainage system and reduced Aba
to the ignoble status as the dirtiest and most decayed city in the
country. For instance, the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road that connects the
city to Akwa-Ibom, the Aba-Porthacourt road that links up the city
to Rivers state and many other inner roads collapsed and became
impassible thus abandoned by the authorities. The city regrettably
became a ghost of itself while the people groan of neglect,
despair and hopelessness.

The fortune of the people as regards
to daily economic activities, craftsmanship and local production of
certain goods that rank Aba as a great and unique city nosedived.
No thanks to the age-long neglect by the past federal and state
governments.

Fortunately, President Buhari who stormed Aba for his campaign
shed tears over the unimaginable and deplorable condition of the
city and pledged federal government assistance in rebuilding the
city if elected into power.

He reechoed and emphasized on this
cheering promise shortly after the conferment of "Ogbuagu"
chieftaincy tittle by the revered traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty,
Eze Isaac Ikonne.

Beyond the promise of fixing the federal roads and providing
other essential amenities to boost trade and other economic
activities in Aba, President Buhari applauded the ingenuity of Aba
people and promised to ensure constant supply of electricity and
financial assistance for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
(SME) to enable entrepreneurs grow their businesses and
contribute to the growth of the national economy.

On his part, the governor of Abia state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu
popularly called "Nwa Aba" having lived and grew up from the
city, promised to implement well articulated programmes that
shall restore Aba on the viable path of economic prosperity as
well as return sanity and decency that will ultimately change the
history of both the city and the people. He promised to declare
Aba a 'disaster zone' to substantively attract meaningful
collaborations and partnership within and outside the country
owing to the enormity of financial resources required in rebuilding
and re-positioning Aba back on track as the economic nerve
center in the south east and south south and China 'China of
Africa'.

As captured in his inaugural speech, Dr. Ikpeazu declared "Great
Abians, our administration is fully committed to providing the
enabling environment and infrastructure to facilitate the growth
and development of Abia and its people; positioning it as a
premier residential, business and tourism destination, with the
ultimate objective of uplifting the lives of our people.

It is
achievable!!! But it requires our collective commitment, sacrifices
and contributions, 'ka oke zuo onye obula' as well as upholding
our values of Being God fearing, Belief in Abia, Integrity,
Innovation and Quality.


Aba was for many years a thriving hub for manufacturing and
commerce until epileptic electricity supply and insecurity forced
the shutdown of most of our indigenous and foreign owned
industries. We must therefore recognize and appreciate the efforts
of the Geometric Power Group and the Federal Government's
NIPP project at Alaoji towards providing a solution to the
perennial challenges of electricity supply to our state.

The
forthcoming operationalisation of these plants will provide a
critical input towards the actualization of our blueprint and road-
map for the regeneration of Aba and the entire Abia State. We
shall pursue it with vigor".


Interestingly, Gov. Ikpeazu on assumption of duties as governor
of Abia state, showed enormous commitment and strength as he
began to make history in Aba. With the ongoing reconstruction of
some vital roads such as Ukaegbu, Umuola, kamalu, Omni, Old
Express, New Umuahia, Owerri and other roads in Aba, the
governor has significantly restored hope and confidence in the
beleaguered minds of Aba residents.
For amassing the very strong will to rewrite the history of Aba via
ongoing infrastructural projects and the coordinated activities of
Aba Urban Renewal Committee headed by Hon. Solomon Ogunji
and Abia State Market Development Committee chaired by a
young and dynamic business tycoon, Mr. Solomon Nwaigwe, Gov.
Ikpeazu has ultimately send a strong signal to local and foreign
investors which also demonstrates his commitment and desire for
robust economic partnership.



Gov. Ikpeazu's coordinated economic programmes and policies
have started yielding desired results as some smart and visionary
investors have begun to show huge interest to invest and partner
with the state government to ensure increased economic activities
as well as empower Abia entrepreneurs in their respective
business ventures.


Having made a remarkable inroad towards rebuilding Aba, the
people and government of Abia state await President
Mohammadu Buhari to fulfilling his campaign promises as regards
to the city. With the successful inauguration of the federal
executive and Abia state executive councils, President Buhari
should urgently brief the minister of Works, Power and Housing,
Babatunde Fashola and his counterpart in the ministry of Trade,
Investment and Industry, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah who
incidentally hails from Abia state to collaborate with Gov. Ikpeazu
in rescuing Aba.

In specific terms, President Buhari's promise to Aba people and
Abia state encompasses the followings; The reconstruction and
rehabilitation of federal roads which include Aba-Ikot-Ekpene,
Portharcourt and Aba-Owerri roads, Provision of steady electricity
through the Geometric power plant located at Alaoji which many
believed was halted by some powerful individuals in the past
administration that were merely pursuing their selfish and personal
agenda, Reconstruction of the drainage system to finally arrest
and control the perennial flooding in some areas of the city,
Provision of technical assistance and soft loans to artisans and
local industrialists to boost their technical know-how as well as
encourage them in their chosen ventures and developing a
strategic action plan for a sustainable collaboration between
federal government and Abia state government for further trade
and entrepreneurial development using Aba as the hub/center.

Indeed, the people of Abia state will remain supportive to
President Buhari and his Change government if necessary actions
are speedily and carefully taken to fulfill the cheering campaign
promise of collaborating with the state government to rebuild and
bring Aba back on sound economic track.