A Supervisory councilor in Ohafia local government, Hon Omezirinnaya Nduka Uko Agbaeze has made an urgent and passionate appeal to Abia State governor Dr Alex Otti to come to the aid of Nkporo community by tarring Nkporo-Oso- Edda Road.
Hon Agbaeze said that the road was a strategic rural road that links Abia with Ebonyi, Cross River, and Enugu states up to Cameroon.
He regretted the long abandonment of the road despite its economic value, insisting that if fixed, the road would facilitate economic growth and easy movement of agricultural produce among the affected states.
Hon Agbaeze, who is also the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ohafia local government, further stated that the road would stimulate job creation and tourism and enhance market access for farmers to reach wider outlets with their products and services.
Tracing the history of the failed promises on the road, which would have boasted the economy of Nkporo clan, Abiriba, Ohafia, and Abia as a whole, Hon Agbaeze said that non fixing of the road, prompted the great son of the community, late Chief K. O. Onyioha declared civil disobedience against the colonial government in 1954 while the then Premier of Eastern Region, the late Dr. M. I Okpara during a historic visit to Nkporo in 1964 amidst cheers drom people assured that the road would be reconstructed, yet nothing was done.
He further remembered ex governor Sam Mbakwe of old Imo State during a to Barr. U. O Agwu in 1981 and then military administrator, Comdr Amadi Ikwecheghe, during a visit to the Nkporo in 1988 was appalled by the State of the road, still they did not kept their promised of fixing the road.
Hon Agbaeze also said that in 1992, the then governor of Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, despite using the road every weekend to access his Amenu Uburu, village and at the instance of the first Speaker of Abia House of Assembly Rt. Hon Prince Arua Arunsi made an unfulfilled promise to tar the road.
He further stated that that the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu during a visit to the community in 2004 was surprised by the state of road and promised to use his wide contacts and speak to relevant authorities concerning the road while ex governor T A Orji in 2012 made similar but unfulfilled promise to fix the road that would have improved trade and commerce between Nde Abia and Nde Ebonyi
The Supervisory Councillor said that a delegation led by an illustrious son of the community and the then deputy governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu in 2020 visited tge then governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who still failed to match his promised words with actions on the reconstruction of the road.
He expressed his belief that the Gov Otti as a jink breaker would break the circle of unfulfilled promises on the road and commended the Otti’s administration for the egalitarian society being built based on equity and fairness and commitments to purposeful and progressive leadership being enthroned in the state by Gov Otti and has stand him out as the father of Abia renaissance.
He commended the governor giant strides.
The governor recorded within two years in office and urged him to extend this magic wand to the Nkporo community by reconstructing the road as it will open up more economic activities between Abia and Ebonyi state
