By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for giving the South-East geopolitical zone a juicy ministry – the ministry of works- despite recording low votes in the area in the 2023 general elections.
Soludo stated this at the weekend at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state, when the Minister of Works and Housing, Chief Dave Umahi paid him a courtesy visit.
He said,” In politics you don’t get what you deserve but what you bargain for with votes. Giving the totality of votes we contributed from South-East and looking at the ministerial portfolios, we may not have the basis to begin to demand for “juicy” portfolios but the President graciously gave us one of our finest and best, one of the few engineers who pioneered concrete pavement as current standard for road construction.
” Nigeria is a federation. You cannot stay in your state, clap with one hand and expect noise. You need the other hand which is the federal government, for things to work.”
With you, Engr. Umahi in office, you are a perfect round peg in a round hole. Please keep showing your leadership.
“What you said about the possibility of coming back again for us to move around in Anambra State will be fantastic because we have fundamental challenges on road infrastructure and especially how it’s delivered by the Federal Government.
Soludo noted that all federal roads in Anambra State had failed and begging the attention of the federal government.
He said,”The Federal Government is staying in Abuja and trying to award road contracts in all nooks and crannies of the country. Sincerely speaking, the entire federal roads are all gone. We are currently spending up to N20 billion on federal roads.”
The Governor said N2 billion was approved for repairs of a section of Onitsha-Owerri Road, lamenting the collapse of the entire road.
He said that was the scenario playing out in most federal roads across the state due to poor maintenance.
He said the Onitsha-Owerri road was very strategic due to the numerous states in the south that the road was linked to, stressing that the second Niger bridge might not be fully utilized if the road would be left in that deplorable state.
He said, “In Anambra West, the road leading to Idah, Kogi state, there’s a direct route from Nzam to Lokoja. When that is constructed, travelling from Anambra to Abuja will be around 3 hours. That is a major game changing project that is worth venturing into.
He urged the Federal Government to work with state governments to develop a more efficient framework for delivering road infrastructure.
Speaking earlier, Umahi bemoaned the challenges posed by erosion in Anambra State .
He expressed disappointment with the state of the Enugu-Onitsha road project, saying that he had summoned the contractors and consultants and would be meeting with MTN under Governor Soludo’s chairmanship.
The Minister said the basic reason for the failure of the road was due to asphalt, stating that the introduction of concrete pavement would be the best because of poor maintenance culture.
He described Tinubu as a man of justice and equity, who decided in his good mind, to appoint someone from the South-East to become the minister of works.
He enumerated the roads currently under construction in the state to include the Ukpo/Dunukofia road, the rehabilitation of Ibaji section of Otuocha, Abali Ofieli, Orie Ama Etiti – Umuawulu road, Omor-Umuoikpa, Oba – Nnewi Road and Osammali – Ogwikpele road.
He urged Soludo to continue showing leadership and voicing the truth at all times, utilizing his God-given wisdom and humility to continue in the service of the state and country.
