SIR Pat Mgbemena has been the Special Adviser to Governor Theodore Orji on Project Monitoring and Implementation since the inception of the regime in 2007.
In this interview in Umuahia, Mgbemena responded to issues raised about the administration’s achievements in Aba among other matters.
By Anayo Okoli
Governor Orji has been flayed by several persons including the traditional ruler of Eziama Aba, Eze Isaac Ikonne, of doing nothing in Aba. What is your reaction?
Well, I am happy that you mentioned Eze Ikonne, let me start with Eze Ikonne. If you could remember when we came on board in 2007, Eze Ikonne was not living in his palace. Eze Ikonne relocated to another place because flood took over his palace, Faulks Road where his palace is located was impassable; there was almost a lake in front of the palace by the time we came on board.
The governor saw that as a slight on the government that such a paramount ruler would abandon his palace and run away because of flood, and he swung into action. Contract for the road was awarded and Faulks Road was rehabilitated which made Eze Ikonne to return to his palace. In fact I doubt if Eze Ikonne really said what he was reported to have said about this administration because he is a major beneficiary of this administration.
Beneficiary of administration
When his son was the commissioner of works, he reconstructed a lot of roads within Eze Ikonne’s axis. Eze Ikonne cannot say that this administration has not done anything.
But it is not only Eze Ikonne, many others also say you have done nothing in Aba?
You know the issue of the problem of Aba has been there, remember that during Sam Mbakwe regime, the Aba problem was also a major issue. Because of Aba, Mbakwe was then nicknamed a weeping governor. Even other administrations after him, the issue of the problems of Aba kept reoccurring. So it did not start with Governor T. A. Orji and we have done a lot to tackle the problems of Aba, which are mostly roads and sanitation. There are three major problems militating against road construction in Aba. One is that the topography and soil texture of Aba are difficult, they are not the same thing with that of Umuahia, let me use that as an example. Aba is a table land; water does not flow out of the city whenever it rains. Again, the areas where water should flow out are blocked by buildings.
Apart from roads, what of the projects in the health sector 100-bed hospital nearing completion in Aba, Diagnostic Centre at ABSUTH, High Court complex, pedestrian bridge, among others, all in Aba. Other legacy project of this government are also scattered in Umuahia and other places. They are not hidden, they are there for everybody to see; they don’t need to be advertised. Let those who are playing politics go and there and they will be ashamed of themselves.
Besides these projects, those talking about Aba, let them cast their minds back to three, four years back when some of them ran out of the city and abandoned their whatever they have their due to the menace of criminals, especially kidnapping. It was this same administration that rescued them and they returned back to their base. This Government spent and is still spending huge sum of money to fight and maintain crime free environment. The Government spent N1.2 billion to rehabilitate the Ohafia Barracks in a bid to enhance security in the state and we are happy that Abians are enjoying it. So this Government has done a lot. Those criticizing us are not sincere but are just playing politics.
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