Ojukwu Innocent Ene
The speech made by the Hon Minister of Works, Senator Engineer David Nweze Umahi, at the bank of Ndibe Beach a few days ago, on the occasion of his inspection of the ongoing Ndibe Beach bridge, a project that will link Afikpo to Calabar as part of the Lagos/Calabar Coastal Highway, appears to have rubbed off negatively on a few vocal Afikpo Indigenes and in one fell swoop, they reacted in the heat of the emotion, without taking time to dispassionately asses the sermon.
A very pragmatic leader, who does not speak tongue in cheek, Umahi had informed Nde Afikpo that the minimum appreciation expected from them is to vote President Tinubu enmass as failure to do that would lead to the project not being completed. But this appeared not to have sat well with them.
This article therefore, seeks to address this misconception. The critical and dispassionate thinking, though silent masses of Afikpo, who forms the majority of the electorate should not allow themselves to fall prey to an emotional group think, by allowing the vocal few to cast a mind fog on them, as Umahi’s sermon can simply be referred to, as an honest reminder of what obtains and what is likely to happen to the project(s ) if President Tinubu is not re – elected.
A dispassionate review of the speech shows the following to be self evident and true:
1.CAN THE PROJECT BE ABANDONED?
The answer to this, is an emphatic and capital YES. The Nigerian landscape is replete and inundated with several abandoned projects in all the tiers of government. It is therefore an incontestable fact that another administration is not likely to continue with project if President Tinubu who is the initiator is not re – elected.
At no other time in the history of Nigeria has Ebonyi State witnessed the number of roads/ Bridge infrastructure, such as she has today.This is possible because Senator Engr Umahi is the Minister of Works, a reality Nde Afikpo are enjoying today because Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the President. Conversely, Umahi may not occupy the position tomorrow if Tinubu is not re – elected and another administration may have other priorities that may not include the Ndibe Beach.
It is equally an incontrovertible fact that the road projects, the Ndibe Beach bridge, inclusive, will enhance connectivity,stimulate economic growth and improve the socio – economic wellbeing of Afikpo LGA, Ebonyi State and Ndigbo at large. We should ignore the mischievous elements trying to down play the importance of this one in a life time great development. Just as we must dismiss the claim by some commentators, that the contract sum for the project had been paid in full. Nothing can be more fallacious than that. We need to be reminded that Senator Umahi had mentioned the payment of Contractors being owed in the sermon.
2.THAT THE LEADER IS FROM YOUR PLACE IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT YOUR PLACE WILL BE DEVELOPED.
Anybody who is contesting the truism of the above should either take a trip to Otuoke in Bayelsa State or put a call to people there as to the condition of critical infrastructure there after their son occupied the exalted office of Nigerian President for 6 years after serving as Vice President.
Yes, the unfortunate reality is that towns, Communities and LGA’s of many persons who had wielded the reins of power in Nigeria have nothing to point to, that their sons and daughters had occupied such exalted positions. So, when Umahi says that it is only people as courageous as him who can do it, please take it to the bank.
Without gain saying the fact, the President Goodluck Jonathan administration is the closest that could be referred to as Igbo administration, so far can we dispassionately and sincerely list what Alaigbo benefited from our brothers and sisters who served in that administration. Please, I should not be misunderstood, I still refer to the Jonathan administration as one of the best we have had in the Country.
At every point where posterity had called upon Umahi, he had always left enduring and life changing legacies in the sand of time. The likes of Umahi whose tangible stewardship are proudly festooned on the golden sands of time and pages of our history stands on a good stead to guide us and deserves to be listened to on leadership selection.
The truth remains that Nigeria at all tiers have been ruled by men who are comfortable to leave things the way they met them or even worse, either because they lack ideas or vision to make things better or because they do not have the courage and the political will to change the ugly order of things.
Umahi has excelled in this sector. Over the years, he has continued to exhibit uncommon creativity in leadership, courage and political will in every office and position he has found himself.
It is not contestable that Umahi loves Afikpo and does not play politics with her development. It is a historical fact that the construction of Ndibe Beach was one of Umahi’s campaign promises to the people of Afikpo. However, during his Governorship, he had to place Ndibe Beach bridge and Edda bridge on a scale, due to the paucity of fund, and the Edda bridge weighed more in urgency, as many Edda sons and daughters could not access their ancestral homes. Thus he constructed the Edda bridge, a project that no other State government can boost of.
However, in other areas of development, Umahi gave Afikpo more than its fair share. The late reverred Ezeogo Ewa Elechi continued to say it in almost every fora, that not even a son of Afikpo could have been able to carry out the many developmental projects executed by Umahi in Afikpo as a Governor.
To the glory of God, when providence threw him the opportunity of becoming the Minister of Works, one of the projects he embarked on was the Ndibe Beech, and this time, bigger and better in scope and reach. Would Umahi be asking for too much if he asks for the votes of Afikpo people for his principal in appreciation?
We should learn to give credit where it is due. Just like Ebonyians have continued to celebrate Abacha for the creation of Ebonyi State,despite what other Nigerians and the international community think of him, so also should we appreciate and give credit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving us a sense of belonging.
Ojukwu,a social commentator and public affairs analyst writes from Abuja.
