Port Harcourt Road: A Tinubu Win, Not an Otti Achievement — Insider Reveals | #NwokeukwuMascot

 Opinion 

Re: Ememanka on Port Harcourt Road; Technically, President Tinubu Not Otti Deserves the accolades by Obinna Oriaku | #NwokeukwuMascot

Mr. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and Professor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State are just a few South-East Governors who have, on various occasions, acknowledged that their enhanced capacity to transform their states beyond the typical expectations of Governors before them is largely due to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s subsidy removal policy. This policy has unlocked enormous financial resources, enabling them to function more effectively.




While the above-named Governors commend President Tinubu for his impactful reforms that have significantly increased their monthly allocations, Governor Alex Otti of Abia stands out as the only one who claims all the credit for himself without acknowledging the President’s contributions.




I recently read the article penned by Barr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, former Chief Press Secretary and current spokesperson to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the immediate past Governor of Abia State. After reading his reflections and speaking with him directly, I am convinced that his sentiments stem from a place of nostalgia and deep personal connection.




Ememanka’s emotional response is understandable he attended Umuagbia Secondary School, which lies along the Port Harcourt Road corridor. The road, until recently, was in a state of utter neglect, and its resurrection understandably rekindles memories of his formative years.




Indeed, we are all pleased with the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road. It stands out as one of the few tangible infrastructural projects undertaken by the Otti administration. It is also arguably the only road redesigned from scratch unlike others that were merely resurfaced with new asphalt over existing layers.




However, Ememanka’s intentions are being misinterpreted in some quarters. Many fail to realize or may have forgotten the complex history behind the delay in reconstructing this critical road.




As the former Chairman of the Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC), by virtue of my position as Commissioner for Finance at the time the contract was awarded in 2018, I am well-positioned to provide some context.




The road project was advertised in three national newspapers as well as in our state-owned Ambassador newspaper in 2018. Among the companies that submitted bids were Jitto Construction, Dantata, and Heartland Construction Ltd, a sister company to Setraco Nigeria Ltd.




Port Harcourt Road was a strategic project in the vision of the Ikpeazu administration, aimed at improving Aba’s urban mobility. At that time, Setraco had already made commendable progress on Faulks Road, symbolizing our shift toward engaging Grade A contractors in Abia, just like Arab Contractors who were active on Aba Road in Umuahia.




Heartland Construction won the bid, and the contract was awarded for about N7 billion, if memory serves me right. However, the challenge was financing. With monthly FAAC allocations averaging N2.8 billion and a wage bill of about N2.3 billion, our room for capital expenditure was extremely limited.




Heartland Construction began work completed the removal of unwanted materials, carried out the entire earthworks end-to-end, and filled back with white sand and laterite. They also completed drainage works along both sides of the 5.7 km stretch from Umuagbia pond to Uratta.




We fast-tracked a loan request through the African Development Bank (AfDB), which had visited Aba, Port Harcourt Road, and Ariaria Market as far back as the Theodore Orji administration. Key stakeholders including Emeka Ononiwu, Barr. Bob Ogu, and Eziuche Ubani were present at the presentation before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Appropriation, chaired by Senator John Enoh from Cross River State, where I presented our loan request on behalf of the Abia State Government. Also present were Senator Shehu Sani (then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Loans) and representatives from states like Kano, Kaduna, Niger, and Enugu, who also made presentations that same day.




Senator T.A. Orji and the late Hon. Ossy Prestige (may his humble soul continue to rest in peace) were present to support our case. While other states secured smooth approvals for their loans and began disbursements between 2020 and 2021, Abia’s request which included the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road and other key projects was deliberately frustrated by one of our own.




It is a matter of public record that the current Governor, Alex Otti, admitted during his 2022 campaign and as documented in a Vanguard newspaper publication titled “Why I stopped Abia’s bid for AfDB loan” that he actively worked to stall the loan process. This political interference, coupled with internal sabotage and petitions within the National Assembly, prevented Abia from accessing the funds needed for critical infrastructure like Port Harcourt Road.



Had the loan not been obstructed, I am confident the road would have been completed alongside projects like the Kaduna-Kano Expressway or the water infrastructure projects currently functioning in Enugu all financed through AfDB and the French Development loan scheme.




To be fair, even if Governor Otti had assumed office between 2015 and 2019, he would have faced similar financial hurdles that plagued our administration especially considering the two separate recessions during that era.




Credit goes to the APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Without institutional reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira which significantly altered the fiscal landscape it is unlikely that a high-profile firm like Julius Berger would have taken on the project, regardless of personal or political affiliations.




Therefore, while commendation for the completed Port Harcourt Road is appropriate, it is equally important that the public understand the full historical and financial context. Praises should be grounded in truth, not political revisionism.


©️ EKWEDIKE


#PortHarcourtRoad #TinubuDidIt #OttiExposed 


#AbiaPolitics #NwokeukwuMascot #InfrastructureTruth


#SEGovernance #AfDBLoanSaga #TinubuReforms #AbiaState



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