Abia Speaker Under Fire as Kinsmen Protest Neglect of Umuebeke Road

Commuters, residents and community members of Nnentu Ngwa (Nnentu Ama Isii) who are majorly occupying the lengthy and dilapidated Ohabiam-Umuebeke Road are currently crying, weeping, and lamenting over the deplorable condition of their major road.

They are equally crying over the excruciating experiences they have been having on the road, stressing that it is unfortunate that their son, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, has been unable to do something about the road.

They have therefore pleaded with the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti to please use the same means he has been using to touch other parts of the state at Nnentu community, which they described as the fastest developing part of Aba, but only hampered by bad roads.

The people are saying that despite the efforts of individual investors who come around the area and the influx of settlers who have serious ambitions of developing the area, the main challenge has been the major road, which they described as a nightmare.

Some community members who spoke to DrumAfricanews said that it is disheartening that their son, Speaker of the House of Assembly, as well as member representing Aba South State Constituency, usually plies the same road en route his village, in Nnentu, but has not done even a palliative work on the road to alleviate their sufferings.

Some of the community members who spoke to our correspondent equally described the Umuebeke axis of Nnentu as the fastest-rising suburb in the entire city of Aba in terms of individual estate development but completely lacked in terms of government presence.

Mrs Emilia Chiemela, a provision shop owner, and am indigene of Umuobasi, Nnentu said that the problem of the area should have been solved under the first tenure of Governor Alex Otti, if they had vibrant person as the speaker, stressing that it will be very difficult for anyone to believe that the speaker of Abia House of Assembly is from Nnentu.

“We have six villages that make up Nnentu Ngwa: Umuobasi village, Nnentu Ngwa, Umuebeke village, Eziukwu village, Umuokennunu village, Okpuala village, and Ahiaba Village. From what you’ve seen so far, does any of the villages you visited look like we have a councillor?

“This junction we’re standing now is the popular T-junction you hear about while boarding a tricycle from the Umuebeke junction to this place. Here are just a few poles to the Speaker’s house. If you take your left side, you’ll see the house of the speaker by the right side there.

“He’s from here. On a weekly basis, you see him, and others from this are following Governor Alex Otti for project commissioning in different villages, but I don’t know why they are afraid of bringing such good things to their own village.

“He comes home with his armed security and does not feel ashamed to ply on this deplorable road. Look around you, mighty buildings springing up! People from different parts of Igboland have bought lands here and are developing them, but no sign of government presence.

“How on earth do we complain to anybody else when our brother is the speaker and our road is like this? Are we to go to governor direct when we have him?”

Corroborating what Emilia said, Ephraim Oforma, an indigene of Umuebeke, Nnentu said that the road is extremely important and should have been considered by the current government, if only the political leaders from the area are serious leaders, with their connections and positions in the current Abia state government, the road should have been a priority.

“I don’t understand what’s wrong with our people. Honestly, anytime I hear the speaker going home through this road, I feel ashamed of myself. If I were him, this road should be a thing of pride for me. It’s an important road.

“When you move from this part of my village, Umuebeke and head towards Ahiaba, you’ll discover what our people and our tenants here are passing through. Look at how expansive the road is; it can be constructed without touching any building.

“This road is so important that if you get to Umuebeke Roundabout, you’ll see other openings where the road connects; when you also get to the T-junction, you’ll see the connection to Obohia Road and Ugwunagbo LGA.

“So, this place could be the new Aba they’re looking for. People think that there are no more villages in Aba South, but you can go around and see for yourself. Linking Aba South to Ugwunagbo through this Umuebeke Road is the best way to expand this city, and our brother Emeruwa, the speaker, should do that.

“What is he going to campaign with? What should he tell our people to make us vote him again? They’re all waiting to campaign under the achievements of Governor Otti elsewhere which they had zero input on.

“As far as I’m concerned, the speaker has spoken enough, and we’ve heard him loud and clear. He should come back home and find another thing or return abroad where he enjoys most. We need to elect people who will take our matters to the governor.

“I’m shocked that he’ll be working with a man like Governor Alex Otti and he cannot convince him to touch this road, and he’s busy moving to several communities, watching people cutting ribbons and celebrating their development while we from his side have nothing to show for it right from his own home.

“Honestly, our people will speak louder in the forthcoming election. A vote for the governor is different, likewise for the senator and the House of Representatives. You see this Aba South State Constituency; it’s going to be more serious because we cannot be inside the water and die of thirst.”

Edet Essien, a motorcyclist from Akwa-Ibom State who moves passengers from Port Harcourt Road to T-junction, Nnentu, said he has been suffering on the road and has no option but to continue.

“Before, we use to collect N400 from Umuebeke junction to T-junction, but today, it’s N1000-N800, because any trip you go for, you’ll go to mechanic for repair because the road is too bad.

“The governor is trying, but the villagers here said that their brother is the speaker, and we used to see him pass through here. I always see them going to his place to carry rice during Christmas, and I feel well if they’re happy. Who am I to tell the truth?

“I know I’m not rich, but you cannot see this type of road in my place. I came to Aba to look for money, but seriously, this road is bad and should have been given attention if, truly, the man the people here are talking about is from here.

“The governor, from what I’m seeing, is trying his best, but this road is so bad that it needs serious repair. Me, I’ve been suffering on this road for a while now, and I feel this would have ended by now.”

Emeka Ucheoma, a retired schoolteacher turned tricycle rider who is an indigenous of the Ohabiam community, said that since the creation of Abia State, the government of Dr Alex Otti is the only government he has seen make impacts in the state.

He, however, said that he cannot completely agree that the Otti’s administration deserves to be tagged a new Abia when it is currently operating with some political leaders whose previous services and current service to the people still show signs of underperformance.

“I was patiently waiting as you were interviewing that Mmogho man (Akwa-Ibomite). See, the truth is that our people have been the major problem. I can’t blame Governor Alex Otti completely.

“He wanted to choose one of us as a speaker, and he only chose what was available. I blame the ‘Obi Wave’. If not, how can someone whose performance in the local government was abysmal and couldn’t make headway in his then party suddenly win an election? That’s the issue.

“I hope we don’t consider party in 2027 and focus fully on character and achievement. Yes, I’m not from Nnentu, the home of the speaker, but I’m from Ohabiam and equally from Aba South. Look at our place; does it look like a suburb or an abandoned rural area?

“Look at everywhere? We have the number three person in Abia, yet see what our road looks like? Can you tell me that he’ll tell the governor about this road and Otti will say no? That’s impossible.

“The Governor knows about our population and settlement of visitors here, who’ll be so glad to see this place develop. All I can tell you is that our communities are looking like the characters of those we sent to Umuahia to represent us.”