LIVE UPDATES
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has commended the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for paying compensation to the community whose land would be used for the construction of a Federal Secretariat in the state.
The former federal lawmaker made this commendation while speaking with newsmen after a meeting with Governor Otti in his Umuehim, Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.
He said the administration had fostered some road projects and the building of a Federal Secretariat in Abia State.
He revealed that the failure of the previous government to pay compensation to the community whose land was earmarked for the project hindered the Federal Government from commencing the building of the secretariat.
He said, “The governor told me that he already had a plan to work on the road from Ossah to Okara Square. I informed him about a road that was supposed to move from Amachara to Ossah and then go down to Umudike, it is called the Umuahia-Umudike 16-kilometre dualisation project.
He added, “So he told me he was already working on it, developing the plans, trying to determine the compensation cost and all that. This was on the 20th of June last year less than one month after he assumed office. So, I was quite thrilled that he had such wonderful plans.
“And then I also informed him of other things, including the Federal Secretariat, which I facilitated, but it was difficult for the last administration to pay the needed compensation to the community. And, I informed him about all these in addition to the road from Umuhia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene, which I also facilitated. And he took an interest in these things.
“Also, the Skills Acquisition Centre at Apumiri Ubakala in Umuahia. When these things were mentioned, including another road that is coming from Achingala-Umunwawa and then coming out to Ubakala, he said he was going to take them up one by one.”
Onuigbo who is currently representing the people of the South-East on the Board of the North East Development Commission could not hide his excitement seeing that Governor Otti matched his words with actions.
He added, “Governor Otti has also been able to pay the compensation that was required or that made it impossible for the past administration to support the Federal Government to realise the Federal Secretariat for Abia State.
"He has paid that compensation and the traditional ruler confirmed that to me, such that the Federal Government has started preliminary processes in commencing the construction of a major Federal Secretariat for the people of Abia State, almost 33 years after the creation of the State.
“These, in addition to so many other things that he has done around the state, is why people like us are giving him support."
