Probe deplorable state of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal road…..Legislator

By PETER OKORE, Umuahia

The member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Uko Nkole Ndukwe has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the circumstances that led to the abandonment of the Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal Government road rehabilitation contract, which was awarded by the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund ( PTF ) when Buhari was the Chairman.
According to Rep Ndukwe, who said he supports president Buhari’s decision to undertake probes into some government activities, Buhari should extend his probes to failed contracts. Said he:” In doing so, he should probe why the contract his led PTF awarded to repair the said Ohafia/Arochukwu federal road was not executed”.
Nkole raised the poser, weekend when undertook an inspection tour of the federal road neglected over the years despite the fact that the contracts to repair and rehabilitate of that road had been awarded at different times.

Narrating the ordeal of inhabitants residing along the stretch of road, a community leader in the area Elder Kalu, who gave his age as above 78 years , told the lawmaker that the said road has not been repaired since it was built by the government of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, despite its strategic importance , the huge traffic-flow on it, the rich agricultural produce of the area, and even serves as a link road from Abia to Cross River and Aka-Ibom states, respectively; in addition to the political significance of the areas.

He therefore wondered why the road has been seemingly jinxed beyond reversal.

Speaking to newsmen at Ania-Ohafia, one of the badly eroded portions of the road, Nkole Ndukwe, who is a Town Planner by profession , recalled the two past contracts awarded by previous administration to repair the road. .All ended in deceit.

One of the contracts was said to be awarded by defunct Petroleum Trust Fund ( PTF ) which had president Muhammadu Buhari as Executive Chairman with his Vice as late Professor Chimere Ikoku – a notable son of Arochkwu and former Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka.

The second contract which is supposed to be subsisting but seemingly abandoned was awarded by former president Goodluck Jonathan federal government.

The federal lawmaker further suggested that the federal government to cause the return of the contractor handling the road contract presently to return to site and save the people and the road commuters from the prevailing hardship and pains.

President General of Nzuko Arochkwu Worldwide Mazi Nnamdi Udoh who was sighted at one of the bad portions on that road, in company of Mazi Jideofor Kanu – a community leader in the area told the team that accompanied the legislator that the poor state of the road had scared many and prevented sons and daughters of area especially his Arochukwu kins from coming as they liked .

Mazi Udo who pleaded with the government to make the repair of this road its topmost priority now said ” our people hardly visit home now. Workers posted to Arochukwu Courts, hospitals, banks, schools etc do not accept the posting. Our new yam feast is approaching but the state of the road would not the encourage home coming of our people”.
While Mazi Kanu said that the flood resulting form the road has threatened and swept away buildings, some sections of it were cut into two a youth leader who also was passing by Mr Kelechi Mbila lamented that their Agric produce can no longer be transports to outside markets for sale.