Former lawmaker Sam Onuigbo has revealed why Abia State has lacked a Federal Secretariat since its creation in 1991. Despite the allocation of land for the project, development was stalled due to incomplete documentation.
Onuigbo, who represented the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Constituency, shared his efforts during a meeting with a delegation of Ohuhu Communities, acknowledging their role in facilitating the project’s development.
While addressing the delegation, Onuigbo, who is presently the Southeast representative on the Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), said, “I see today as one of the days in my political career that can never be easily wished away. I am in this mood because it is quite rare in this clime to remember past leaders who made positive contributions to the development of society.
“Your reason for visiting me today is borne out of your desire to recognise my little but relevant steps taken to bring infrastructural development by my asking for and getting the required approval for the construction of a brand-new Federal Secretariat in your community while I represented the good people of the great Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency.”
He reflected on the steps he took to secure the project, including raising the issue in the House of Representatives in 2019 and addressing the absence of a Federal Secretariat in Abia.
Onuigbo recalled that the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, revealed that the land originally allocated for the Secretariat had been encroached upon, and challenged the state government to find a new location.
Onuigbo added that he pursued the matter through consultations with former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who secured the current site at Ekeoba (Ohuhu Land), although the title documents and compensation were not finalised.
After leaving office, Onuigbo continued pushing for the project, and in June 2023, he worked with the new Governor, Alex Otti, to resolve the outstanding issues, leading to the commencement of the project.
He said, “I continued pursuing it (even after I served out my tenure as a lawmaker) by consulting with the incumbent governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on June 20, 2023 (less than a month after he assumed office), who has graciously concluded the rites of compensation and the issuance of the title documents.”
“I am grateful that today equipment is being mounted and moved to the site, and I sincerely thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his approval for the proper take-off of the project, which has again shown his (Tinubu’s) desire to correct and address the obvious marginalization of the South East Zone in the country.”
“I also appreciate Governor Alex Otti for providing the conducive atmosphere for the hitch-free commencement of the project, the then Minister of Works and Housing (Hon. Fashola) for keeping his promise of helping Abia State get a brand-new Federal Secretariat.”
“I wholeheartedly appreciate the Traditional Ruler of the Ohuhu host community, His Royal Highness, Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna, the people of Ekeoba, and the entire Ohuhu clan for their patriotism, which has resulted in a conducive environment for the take-off of the project.”
He expressed his ongoing commitment to lobbying for infrastructure development, including the long-awaited reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road.
