By CHARLES IWUOHA

Barely a month to the end of his tenure, Governor David Umahi has embarked on massive commissioning of all completed rural and urban road projects across the senatorial zones of the state.

The four-day scheduled commissioning event kicked off Friday with five strategic roads across Ikwo, Abakaliki, Ohaukwu and Ishielu Local government areas of the state.

The roads comprise the 34.5 km Ntezi – Agba (in Ishielu) – Isu (in Onicha) road and the Ezzangbo junction to Effium road which is a significant portion of the 198 km Abakaliki ring road.

Others are 5 out of the 15 km Agubia- Oronga road, Enyibichiri – Ojon – Nwida roads both in Ikwo, and Obujia – Nwanwu road of 9.5 km in Abakaliki LGA.

The Commissioning tour which attracted former Governors of the State, Chief Martin Elechi and Dr. Sam Egwu, among other major stakeholders witnessed massive turnout of cheering villagers.

Governor Umahi while addressing the people in Ikwo, starting point of the tour, expressed gratitude to God for the achievements of his administration. He paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Martin Elechi for his fatherly training which according to the governor, brought out the toughness in him.

He expressed delight that the opposition parties and other detractors of his government are equally relishing the gains of infrastructural development in the state.

Umahi expressed optimism that the incoming administration would complete some of the roads from where he stopped.

He stated that the roads were built on 2mm concrete pavement, and estimated the cost of the Ntezi – Agba – Isu road at the cost N7 billion.

Former Governor, Elechi, while cutting the inauguration tape in some of the locations applauded the Governor whom he described as “my pikin”.

He noted that such an avalanche of projects are not easy to come by in the midst of competing priorities in governance.

“Nothing gives the people joy than having a good road traversing their community. Your Excellency, you couldn’t have done better.

“I have been in government and know how hard it is to source money for projects, let alone when there are many projects as you are doing.

“These roads will speed up economic activities in these areas. We are thankful to you, Your Excellency,” Elechi said.

In separate interviews, Chairmen of Ikwo, Abakaliki, Ohaukwu and Ishielu local government areas, Sunday Nwankwo, Ebere Nwogba, Ikechukwu Odono and Obinna Onwe, respectively, expressed their joy over the commissioned roads and other development projects of Governor Umahi in their areas.

They commended the Governor for prudently managing the meagre resources of the state in producing maximum benefit to the people, describing the governor’s infrastructural revolution as promises kept.

They pledged their continued support to the Governor in delivering democracy dividends to the people.

Others who cut the inauguration tapes for the projects included the Governor-elect, Francis Nwifuru who inaugurated the Obujia – Nwanwu road and former Governor and Senator of Ebonyi North, Sam Ominyi Egwu who cut the tape for Ezzangbo junction – Effium road.

Egwu was represented at the events by his wife, Eunice, who also appreciated the Governor for touching lives of the people positively.

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