Otti flags off reconstruction of Ohafia-Arochukwu Road
• Accuses successive federal, state govts of neglect
• Orji Kalu kicks, faults Otti’s claims
Following a seeming break of the jinx that held the reconstruction of the dilapidated 41.4 kilometre Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal Road, which has been abandoned for over three decades despite contracts awarded for the reconstruction of the road by successive governments, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, yesterday, flagged off the road reconstruction during a ceremony at Ohafia.
Speaking during the flag-off, Otti said that for several decades, coming into Arochukwu from anywhere was an uphill task, prompting the cliché that ‘there is no easy and short route to Arochukwu.’ He said: “Today, we have come to begin a holistic process that will put an end to this age-old nightmare, and give fellow Abians living in the over 60 communities and clans around this corridor a new lease of life.”
Otti said that this road, built in the 1960s by the administration of the late Premier of the defunct Eastern region, Dr Michael Okpara, is a major artery connecting several communities and towns within this part of the Eastern region.
“It became a major economic enabler, leading to a boom in agriculture, commerce, and tourism, as individuals and families came in their numbers to either trade or visit the many important national heritage sites in Arochukwu, including the ‘Osu gwodo gwodo’ Waterfall, the Ibini Ukpabi Shrine and other places of interest for research and leisure purposes.
The governor consequently stated that his administration sincerely took this bold initiative to see to the reconstruction of the road to save the Federal Government the embarrassment it has brought it before international visitors and tourists.
HOWEVER, the Media Office of the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu, in a statement, signed by George Maduka, clarified that some of the paragraphs of Otti’s speech were deeply concerning to the former Abia State Governor.
He noted: “First, Otti credited the construction of the road to the administration of Dr Michael Okpara instead of Dr Guy Ikokwu of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), and his Personal Assistant, Mr Ocha Achinuvu, who were instrumental to the construction of the road during their days in the PTF.
“Under the administration of Uzor Kalu as Abia State Governor, the Arochukwu-Ohafia Road was resurfaced from Umuahia to Arochukwu. Therefore, for Otti to say that the road was abandoned by public servants since M.I. Okpara is quite worrisome.”
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