“For many years, the old Omenuko Bridge which was a colonial relic remained a death trap in which several innocent souls perished. The Bridge was a narrow stretch that could hardly take a vehicle. During rainy seasons, the Bridge was often flooded. Today, we have turned the page. The nightmare is over; the siege has collapsed; the jinx is forever broken”
It was jubilation galore on Friday, when the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, in the company of former Chief of Army Staff of Nigerian Army, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Onyeabo Ihejirika, commissioned the newly completed Omenuko Bridge at Ozu Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area (LGA). For the entirety of Abians and in particular, the people of Abam, Arochukwu, Ohafia and Ihechiowa, who normally ply the Umuahia-Bende-Arochukwu road on which that bridge is located, it was indeed a dream come true.
For many years, the old Omenuko Bridge which was a colonial relic remained a death trap in which several innocent souls perished. The Bridge was a narrow stretch that could hardly take a vehicle. During rainy seasons, the Bridge was often flooded, leading to several mishaps with the attendant loss of precious lives. It will be recalled that in 2007, 17 school children were lost at the Bridge. It was equally at this spot that the famous World Evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai lost two of his biological children about forty years ago.
All the governments that preceded Dr. Alex Otti, including military and civilian, could not do anything to fix the problem in spite of their mouthed platitudes to the contrary. All that they did was to pay lip service with the proposed reconstruction of the said bridge appearing in every annual budget estimates. The bridge defied the administrations of Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Ahamefule Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu. None of them could deliver on the Bridge. And the carnage continued until the emergence of Otti on the leadership saddle of the State.
On assumption of office in 2023, Otti promised to wipe away the tears of the people within that corridor by committing to building a new and modern Bridge that would ensure seamless movement of people and goods across the dreaded Ikwu River. He immediately set to work. And today, what we have as Omenuko Bridge is a brand new infrastructure existing by the side of the old death trap. It is a fine piece of architecture; very expansive and built to last for ages.
Apart from the bridge, Otti gave another beautiful gift to the people of the area: the 30-Km Ozu Abam-Ndi Oji-Ndi Okereke-Amuvi Road. The road built by Geld Construction Company Limited is a beauty to behold. It is solidly tarred and provided with solar-powered street lights. The entire stretch of road is well marked with all the necessary road signs. I had the privilege of passing through the new Omenuko Bridge and the new Road in the New Year. It was indeed a pleasurable experience. Otti deserves huge accolades for these great accomplishments.
The Eze Aro, His Eminence Eberechukwu Oji gave a vivid description of what the new infrastructure represent to the people of Abam and Arochukwu:
“This landmark project is beyond infrastructure – it is a bridge of connectivity, commerce and renewed hope for our people”.
With the completion and opening of the new Omenuko Bridge, Otti has broken a jinx. Indeed, the siege has been lifted. The people of Abam and other communities along that corridor have been liberated from years of neglect, isolation and underdevelopment, courtesy of the visionary and pragmatic leadership of Dr. Alex Otti.
In the words of Otti: “Today, we have turned the page. The nightmare is over; the siege has collapsed; the jinx is forever broken”. These powerful words speak to the character of a leader who symbolizes resoluteness, courage, and resilience. A true leader does not lament over challenges, no matter how daunting. He confronts and defeat challenges with strategies and well thought out ideas. This is what Otti has done in the instant case of the Omenuko Bridge and Abam-Arochukwu Road.
By delivering on these critical infrastructure, Otti has not only opened up that corridor for development, he has also reconnected that forgotten part of Abia to the rest of the State. This is in tandem with his pledge not to leave any community behind in the New Abia.
There is no doubt that the new Bridge and road are going to facilitate trade and commerce. They would also promote agricultural production, given the fact that the area is renowned for farming and other agro-allied activities. The resultant effect is shared prosperity and greater economic development.
Like Governor Otti noted at the civic reception organized in his honour at Abam Secondary School field: “The newly constructed Bridge over Ikwu River, popularly called Omenuko Bridge, stands as a testament to the resolute determination of our administration to address decades of neglect and set a new governance standard, one that empowers communities and enables prosperity for all. In the same vein, the timely delivery of the 30-kilometer stretch of road traversing several clans in Abam and Arochukwu, points us to what we are truly capable of, when the leadership is fully aligned to the aspirations of the community”.
The timely completion of the Omenuko Bridge is, indeed, a big dream come true. It is a significant achievement which has made lasting impressions on the people of Abam and Arochukwu, and beyond. The proverbial saying that there is no easy route to Aro has been reversed. Today, it takes only one hour to reach Aro from Umuahia; something that was nigh impossible a few weeks ago.
May Abia continue to prevail!
Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com
