Driving to Ohafia, third urban town in Abia state from Umuahia enroute the Ohafia-Bende road could be described as a trip to a deliberately created uncertainty allowed to exist by sheer negligence of those it is within their power of influence to stand in the gap for the community, their own people whom they claim to love so much and always seeks their endorsement under the guise of political philanthropy or as representatives especially towards every electoral campaign seasons.
First sign of Danger begins from the boundary exit between Umuahia and Bende LGA at IYIENU/ISIEKE town, Umuahia South, the road is half consumed by a continuously deepening spasm of the earth giving early signs of a fatal danger that is likely to cut off Umuahia from Bende in no distant time.
As you drive through the Bende axis of the road leading to the residence of Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Kalu, you will witness patches of the road possibly waiting for palliative works or ongoing palliative works then you begin to drive towards the Ozu Abam axis to an infamous bridge named Igu or Omenuko bridge, a 50 meters Bridge across a deep ocean river flowing across Ozu Abam to other hinterlands within the Ohafia-Arochukwu region.
This bridge from every indication could be described as one of the most dangerous public facility in a South Eastern State, perhaps deliberately abandoned for nothing other than sheer political antagonism that is not of any benefit whether direct or remote to the people of Ohafa, Bende, Arochukwu and Ozu Abam who plies this road on a daily basis.
A less than 50 meter very narrow bridge without handles, with pot holes at the entrance, whenever it rained, the water could be seen overflowing the bridge without handles in so much that drivers and passerby are stranded in between the forests, exposing road users to dangerous security situations until the water recede.
In a conversation with residents around the region located about 200 meters to a Military Checkpoints, they expressed disappointments and anger at certain individuals they will refer as their representatives in government whom also ply the dangerous bridge daily including Hon. Uko Nkole former Federal House of Representative member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency whom it was rumored made attempt at rebuilding the bridge but got into political antagonism with Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, until it was abandoned, signs of that rumored attempt could be seen beside the dilapidated narrow bridge, then came in Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa replacing Uko Nkole of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency and other notable political figures from the Arochukwu Ohafia constituency all plying this dangerous road including the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu who also drives through this deadly bridge to his residence in Amaekpu Ohafia at the end of work from Umuahia every week.
Speaking to one of the residents who complained bitterly at the level of neglect the Ohafia region has received from government after government including the recent Alex Otti Labour party government, the man queried furiously, he asked; What has Ohafia people done in Abia that it should always continue to receive this kind of treatment from every political office holders, this bridge has consumed many lives yet no political figure in Ohafia including the so called big men has found it necessary to call the attention of the government to this death trap we call bridge or are they waiting for more people to die before they come here to console us and make the usual empty promises to rebuild it, The sight of this bridge is very shameful and if you drive towards the slope towards Mmuri bridge, the level of neglect and terrible condition of a road that the contractors may have collected the money and ran away is not only terrifying but shameful.”
“Please we are begging Governor Alex Otti, we heard that he had made promise to rebuild the bridge, but this is not the first time we have heard such promises, I am begging all Ohafia political office holders to come together and pay serious attention at the danger that lurks around the community and a calamity that is certain to announce the dire extent of government neglect to the people of Ohafia and Arochukwu
Ohafia is the 3rd largest urban center in Abia State after Aba and Umuahia, yet for 5 good years it has no electricity, and no access roads, with this deadly bridge that people drive through every day, it is only a matter of time before a calamity happen
Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu the Deputy Governor, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe) and so many other political heavy weights and power brokers from the Arochukwu/Ohafia constituency should save their people this imminent death that is waiting to consume the people and plead with Governor Alex Otti to consider the region especially Ohafia for an impactful development to complement his developmental stride across the entire state.
If they invests a minimum of ₦800 million on the Omenuko Bridge in Ohafia-Bende Road and other infrastructure on a monthly basis within six months we will see it, and it’s not too much to ask, this Omenuko bridges without handles across a flowing river should be declared an emergency and a danger to the community.
