Report by Ferdinand Ekeoma
In 2017, a foremost banker-turned politician, Dr. Alex Otti OFR, made a solem pledge to the suffering people of Isialangwa South, to use his network of contacts and relationship with some respected personalities in the present Federal Government and ensure urgent intervention that could see some of the roads in the area constructed.
In one of the gatherings where he broke this cheering news in the most polite and calm manner, the ever passionate women of Umuru Nvosi, shouted in excitement and prayed that the promise would become a reality.
Even though the women believed Otti, knowing very well that he is not given to empty promises and bogus claims, yet, they didn’t imagine that its actualization would come with such swiftness, hence their amazement when earth moving quipment started arriving the area in early 2018.
Just few days before the commencement of the road construction which was to be undertaken by the NDDC, there was a hitch, unfortunately from agents of Abia state government who tried to stop the Contractor, claiming that the Isieketa Mbawsi road had been awarded by the state government.
The contactor alleged that the directive for the stoppage of work was issued to his men by the LGA Chairman after his attempt to extort money from them was rebuffed.
While the initiator of the project, Dr. Alex Otti swung into action to ensure that the government’s politically motivated plot to obstruct the project did not succeed, the people of Isieketa/Mbawsi and environ, who were in joyous mood and relishing the opportunity of having a brand new road, didn’t take the antics of the government lightly, thus they swiftly mobilized their people and staged a serious protest that sent out a strong message of warning, daring the LGA Chairman and his collaborators.
Having seen all hitches cleared, the contractor and his men moved in and began serious work with inspiring speed.
By July 2018, the first phase of the project, which is a solidly constructed 5.5 Kilometer Osieketa road was delivered by the contractor, amid joy and excitement.
During the commissioning, the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina who was on ground to comission the project, thanked Dr. Alex Otti for initiating the project leveraging on his contact at the Federal, and told the people of Isieketa not just to be appreciatiave of Otti, but to also ensure proper utilization of the road.
The Contractor in Charge of the project, Engr. Chibuike Achigbu (Akacha) re-echoed the same message of proper use of the road, assuring the people that the road came with stone base, assuring them of its durability.
Speaking, the initiator of the project, Dr. Alex Otti assured the people that the road project was going to cut across various communities of the Local Government, and that the second phase would lead all the way to Mbawsi.
As the financial expert promised, huge progress has been made, as work has been on top speed, all the way to Mbawsi.
All the places Abia state government “built” on the radio, including Umuru/Umuehim road, have now witnessed physical and verifiable transformation, not the type that exists only in the government’s world of utopia.
In line with his serious mindedness, and regard for quality, Dr. Otti from day one made it a duty to ensure that so much importance was attached to quality.
And just two days ago, Dr. Otti, accompanied by the Contactor Engr. Achigbu embarked on the inspection of the almost completed Eketa/Mbawsi road, Umuru/Umuolike Okpualangwa road and Amuha/Uhum road that just commenced.
Work is ongoing, new quality roads are springing up, and Alex Otti is determined to ensure that his promise to use his contact and ensure that the people of Isialangwa South massively benefit from these FG sponsored projects is a continuous reality that shall surpass the expectations of the people.
Like George Herbert Bush once declared “We are given power, not to advance our own purposes, neither to make great show nor name in the world, but there is only one use of power, and it’s to serve the people”. Dr. Alex Otti OFR must be commended for using his little power and contact to wipe the tears of the people of the area who for years suffered terribly to move in and out of their communities because of bad roads. Today, life is better for the people of Isialangwa, and it can only get better for them, because, the Alex Otti’s promise is a continuous reality.
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