A May 29 celebration to remember - By Enyinnaya Appolos

What a way to celebrate the May 29 democracy day. Instead of the usual gathering at either Umuahia township stadium or the Abia State International Conference Center, Umuahia, for what I call annual rhetoric of long flowery speeches, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who had earlier invited Abians from all works of life and all political persuasion for the celebration, chose to embark on a state wide tour of some on going projects and commissioning of completed ones.

Meanwhile, the only event that gathered Abians at Umuahia, as far as the 2017 democracy day celebration is concerned  was the thanksgiving service that held at the International Conference Centre on Sunday and the score card presentation by commissioners that held later at night same Sunday, May 28.

Today May 29, while some were expecting the usual events, as early as 8am, the buses where lined up and ready to move for the business of the day.

Abia leaders, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Hon. Uko Nkole, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Col Austin Akobundu, Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Chief Mba Ukariwo, Chief Okezie Anyamele, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, Chief Acho Nwakanma, the members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Chikwendu Kalu and his Deputy Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe, were in government house to join the Governor and his Deputy, Sir Udo Oko Chukwu, to embark on the tour.
The tour buses left Government House Umuahia at about 9:30am

First assignment was the inspection of Abia State Mushroom farm located at the headquarters of the State's ministry  of Agriculture, where the performing Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Uzo Azubuike, conducted the Governor and his team round. Senators Abaribe and Ohuabunwa were given the opportunity to harvest mushrooms

From the mushroom farm the train left for Arochukwu, where energetic and hardworking Commissioner for Works, Hon. Eziuche Ubani was already on ground at the ongoing Ndi Okereke Bridge to brief the Governor and his team on progress so far made.

From Arochukwu, the convoy returned to Umuahia and inspected the ongoing reconstruction of Aba Road in Umuahia by Arab Contractors.

From Umuahia the convoy moved to the ongoing Umuocheala road at Isiala Ngwa south, from there to Osisioma flyover, then the inspection of MCC/Samek road and Faulks Road/ Ifeobara basin at Aba north.

At about 3pm, the convoy arrived the Ndiegoro area of Aba, off Ngwa Road, in Aba South, where the Governor commissioned four cluster of streets, namely; Aharandu, Onyebuchi, Enejiaka, and Ibadan Streets.

The convoy then moved to Obingwa and inspected three different active sites including the ongoing expansion of Ururuka road, the ongoing construction of Owoahiafo/Onicha Ngwa Road, and also ongoing Umuaro-Ekwereazu Ngwa road.

The convoy returned to Isiala Ngwa south again, and inspected the Umuokoro-Umuoba road.

The final inspection for the day held at about 6pm at Umunkpei-Amaiyi road in Isiala Ngwa north and the convoy returned to Government House Umuahia, where dinner was served.

It was a 10 hours tour.

If you were not part of it, you missed Democracy Day celebration in Abia State like no other.

Enyinnaya Appolos is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor