By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and Minister of Works, (Engr.) David Umahi, have inspected and urged the contractors handling different sections of Enugu - Port-Harcourt Expressway to re-double double their efforts to ensure timely delivery of the road projects.

The Works Minister also used the opportunity to commend Governor Otti for his good works in the State, which has endeared him so much to the people and the synergy between him and President Bola Tinubu, on infrastructural development across the State.

This is coming amidst threat by the Federal Government to terminate the part of the project being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), over what it described as slow pace of work.

This threat has been withdrawn following the intervention and reassurance of Governor Alex Otti, to the Federal Government that the CCECC will speed up work and deliver quality project.

Engr. Umahi also used the opportunity to brief Governor Otti about the introduction of reinforced rigid pavement in some sections of the road for durability.

?The infrastructural guru, the Governor of Abia State, this is the time we can actually say that Abia is the State of God. First, is to thank the Abia people. Look at how you came out, nobody told you that we were coming here to do anything. This is what is called organic love for your Governor.

?Let me tell you something, when it comes to the development of this country, the President does not want to know which party you belong to. The President of this country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has so much love for your Governor, and your Governor loves President Bola Ahmed Tinubu very well.

?Did you hear that CCECC said that they have been on this road for ten years? How could you be doing 43 kilometres for ten years? But it?s only in 2 years that the President is completing one section of the carriage way. It shows the kind of love the President has for the Governor of Abia State. And, I will boast, there is no Governor in the Southeast who is not supporting the President because of the great things he is doing.

?I was passing through Aba today, you will not understand, you can pick a pin on the streets of Aba. You will not see any disorderliness because of this great man, the Governor of Abia State.

?Governor, let me tell you something, apart from being the same blood with you, your love for the President, your development of the entire Abia State, no matter what anybody says, I will continue to support you, and the President will continue to support you.

"Politics is about development. When you see somebody who is developing his people, Abia never had it like this before, and that is why I love you people because you appreciate what is good. When a change has happened, then you acknowledge it.? Engr. Umahi stated.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Otti's Chief press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha and made available to journalists.

Speaking further at the section of the road being handled by CCECC, Minister Umahi said, ?Your Excellency, this location is the worst part of this road. And, so I told them, you have to do the first 500 Meters, part of it is on concrete, like what you are doing, and then coated with asphalt.

?And, let me say that you are the one that has brokered peace between the Federal Government and CCECC as far as this road is concerned. And, I think that the reason they have returned fully back on site is because they are also working for you.

?I want to thank you, Governor for bringing them back fully on site? Governor, thank you very much. Last time we spoke about what the president is doing, you recall that it takes hours to travel from here to Onne Port, but today you can do it in 30 minutes. That is the kind of President we have.?

After trekking to the part of the project being handled by the Arab Contractor with Governor Otti, Engineer Umahi while commending Governor Otti for his unparallel push for the development of Abia State as demonstrated by the number of Federal road projects that his administration has taken over because of his love for the people, expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of work at the remaining 4.5KM out of the 112KM being handled by the contractor and charged them to expedite action or face revocation of the contract.

Responding, Governor Otti expressed his gratitude to the Works Minister for listening to him when he intervened and pleaded with him to withdraw the termination threat to CCECC. He charged CCECC that all he requires from them, having brokered peace between them and the Federal Government, is to double their efforts and deliver quality job in record time.

Dr. Otti, who decried the deplorable condition of the road for over ten years, forcing people to go through Etche to access Abia from Port Harcourt, said that roads are important because they give access, without which you are stuck.

?It is so important that roads are constructed because that is what gives you access. If you don?t have roads, then you are stocked.

?For us who are very energetic and entrepreneurial, producing virtually everything, the least we can do is to provide the enabling environment for the businesses to move. And that is why I am personally interested in ensuring that this road and other roads around are done.

Governor Otti used the opportunity to thank Mr President and the Federal Government for the approvals given to the State Government to take over the construction of some Federal roads in the State, which his administration had already commenced work on.

?I want to also thank you, Honourable Minister, for giving us approval for the Umuahia Ikot Ekpene Road, which we flagged off last week. I want to also thank you for giving us the approval for the Owerrinta Umuikaa dualization, which is ongoing. You also gave approval for the Onuimo - Tower Road, about 5.7KM for dualization, which is also going on at the moment. Of course, we received approval from you to do the Ohafia-Aochukwu road, which is being done at the moment. And, most importantly, you did not withhold approval; you gave us approval to do the Omenuko bridge, which we have just completed. These are Federal roads, but we are partnering with the Federal Government to fix them,? Governor Otti stated.

?I have said in the past, once elections are over, governance takes over. So, what we are doing now is governance. A lot of people don?t understand opposition. Opposition doesn?t mean that you would be telling lies or that you see something that is good and say it's bad, that is witchcraft.

?For us, you cannot be in Government and be opposition. It is the same Government, from the centre all the way to the local government. So, we are all working together with the President and with sister States and all the Local Governments for the benefit of our people, that?s why we came.

The Governor thanked Abians for the unprecedented organic love they have shown and continue to show his administration and prayed God to keep blessing them.

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