Aba, the commercial city of Abia State popularly known as Enyimba City has come alive again since the new administration of Governor Alex Otti came onboard.
The city known for its hustling and bustling spirit had once been described as a city that sleeps before the nightfall, following the years of inadequate attention towards the city by the past administrations.
Before Governor Alex Otti came onboard, Aba main town sleeps before 8pm following the increase in insecurity and lack of good road infrastructure.
However, recently no weekend passes by without Aba bursting alive with an influx of visitors trooping in from far and near coming not only to spend their weekend but also to witness firsthand the miraculous transformation taking place in the state.
Since the inception of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, an era welcomed with astounding change and development, Aba, in particular, has experienced a sudden shift in the very metaphorical lens through which it has long been viewed.
Luckily, Aba is steadily returning to the glory of the 90s. As a young boy born in that era, I can categorically say that Aba was not just a business hub or a commercial city, but a happening city, a place where visitors from across regions would eagerly come to spend their weekends.
In those days, we had guests from neighboring cities, workers from oil companies in Port Harcourt, corporate professionals from Uyo, astute businessmen from Owerri, and even high class visitors from Enugu city, all rushing to Aba back then, just to have the best weekends of their lives.
At the time, we had popular spots like Crystal Park Hotel, Udenwanyi Hotel, Unicoco, City Global, and many more. Aba became the ultimate settling spot for everyone around the region.
Weekends were incomplete without A-list performers gracing the city. Legendary artists like Bright Chimezie, Papa Soldier, Ghana Brothers, Oriental Brothers, and Oliver de Coque dared not spend their weekends elsewhere, because they received more love, energy, and patronage right here in Aba.
But sadly, it is both pathetic and regrettable that Aba eventually lost its sparkle, its juice and spice, due to bad leadership. Maladministrators, on several occasions, spent huge state resources building hotels and fast food chains in futile attempts to awaken the Aba of old.
Meanwhile, the very basics, roads, drainage, power, and infrastructure, were abandoned. And as we all know, no one builds a castle without a path to access it.
Fast forward to today, Governor Alex Otti has effortlessly restored Aba to the city we once knew and cherished. Have you tried touring Aba in your free time?
From the ambience of the water fountain at Osisioma Junction that welcomes you at the city’s entry point, to the sweet fragrance of untouched, corruption-free flowers, the neatness of the environment itself can tempt you to park by the roadside just to soak in the pleasure.
The annoying potholes are gone. The stench and filth odours have disappeared. Even your car windows will be forced down, because the natural aroma of Aba’s fresh air beats your car air freshener.
Before you even get to Port Harcourt Road, you would have already passed three fountains. And should I even begin to talk about our brand new tear-rubber Port Harcourt Road?
All these and more are enough to usher in the range of visitors now flocking to Aba every weekend. Security is guaranteed. Nightlife is alive 24/7. Power is constant. And if you’re looking for hotels, you’ll find plenty, so many that I won’t mention names here, to avoid offending those not listed.
But I can tell you for free, in just the last year, new entertainment hubs and hotels springing up in Aba have surpassed 30, while many more are already under construction.
The image attached tells the simple truth you need to know. Aba is back again! Our regular visitors are returning in numbers. The influx of fleets of cars every weekend says it all. Even on weekdays, Aba keeps bustling, because there is no better choice destination for business, leisure, and investment than here.
And before I end this, remember this, the cerebral Obi Cubana has already opened his lounge in Aba, and barely a month later, he returned to open his Vaib company branch at Jubilee.
What did he see? He saw the truth that Aba’s glory has returned. And like every wise businessman, he rushed to partake in the harvest.
Today, Aba has emerged once more at the top, not only as the hub of commerce, but also as the emerging hub of entertainment and nightlife in the country.
It takes a Governor Alex Otti with true spark to ignite the fire of Aba. Those without the spark tried and failed. The truth is this, you cannot light a candle with a crayon, it takes a matchstick to set it aflame.
And in Aba, Governor Alex Otti has struck that match and trust me, this little light of ours, ndi Aba will let it continue to shine till 2031, and after 2031, there will be a transfer of sparkle to whoever will continue, because we can’t afford to lose this spark.
By Miracle Chukwunenye
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