Mbaise-Umuahia Road: Ihedioha Should Stop Hallucinations, Mbaise Has Moved On Without Him

AMBROSE NWAOGWUGWU 

I read a very poor attempt by Ihedioha’s camp to discredit the ongoing construction works on the Mbaise-Umuahia road being embarked upon by the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma, erroneously claiming it is the initiative of Dave Umahi, the federal minister of works. This narrative, crafted by a so called Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR) led by one Professor Eddie Oparaoji and endorsed by Ezuruezu Mbaise, unilaterally spearheaded by Surveyor Joe Anosike, reeks of desperation. These are gang of individuals who feasted on Mbaise common patrimony for 12 years, loyalists of Ihedioha, have long been stranded in their aimless political wanderings. Adding to the drama, Professor Viola Onwuliri was also quoted in the report with scathing remarks, typical of Ihedioha’s bewitched political renegades.

But here is the question: So, Ihedioha and Co-travelers knew that ministers of works could undertake road construction? If so, the pictures attached to this post reveal his woeful “achievements” on Mbaise roads during his 12 years in power. How ironic that during his reign—spanning 12 uninterrupted years in the House of Representatives, with eight of those years as a principal officer—he failed to attract any meaningful federal intervention for Mbaise roads. And now, with a functioning road project underway, he and his lackeys suddenly remember that federal ministers of work can do such, and now want to rewrite history by crediting Minister Umahi while conveniently ignoring the governor who conceived, initiated and delivering the project according to standard specifications.

What did Mbaise gain during the uninterrupted reign of these failed political hawks? Nothing but deplorable roads, a lack of basic infrastructure, and poor representation. Ihedioha and his cronies, who held sway for over a decade, allowed Mbaise to languish in underdevelopment. Yet, they now expect applause for their hollow praises of Umahi, as though they weren’t the same people who wasted years in Abuja buying SUVs to drive on bad roads while Mbaise suffered.

For clarity, the #PeoplesGovernor had already begun the construction of the Mbaise-Umuahia road long before Umahi assumed office as minister. The Mbaise-Umuahia road is among the three economic ‘federal’ roads started by the #SharedProsperity government of Governor Hope Uzodimma, of which the two namely Orlu-Owerri road and Okigwe-Owerri road were all started, completed and commissioned for use while Dave Umahi was still the governor of Ebonyi State.

Although these are what we refer to as federal roads but the #PeoplesGovernor is of the firm belief that these roads are being used by everyday Imolites, hence must not wait for the federal government before putting them to good use for the benefit of our people.

This fact exposes the hypocrisy of Ihedioha’s camp, who are now clutching at straws, trying to mislead Mbaise into believing that a man who spent 12 years in power without delivering a single federal road project is suddenly the savior of our people.

This is the same Ihedioha who, during his tenure, behaved as though federal ministers of works were powerless, neglecting every opportunity to champion road construction for Mbaise. During those 12 ruinious years, all we got was the stories of how the roads were added in the budget every 4 eke market day.

Yet, the current administration, without wasting time on rhetoric, has taken bold steps to deliver infrastructure that directly benefit the people.

Ihedioha must stop his disingenuous politics of hate. He must come to terms with the fact that his time has passed. The people of Mbaise have moved on, tired of his brand of politics that thrives on distractions, manipulation, and empty promises. Our people have embraced progressive politics of development, as we cannot go back to Egypt.

Mbaise no longer needs self-serving politicians whose track records are riddled with failure and opportunism. Ihedioha’s era of political dominance is over, and it is high time he stepped aside for the #PeoplesGovernor and other forward-thinking progressive leaders to continue the work of rebuilding our homeland. Enough is enough. Mbaise deserves better, and better has come.

So, let Ihedioha and his dwindling band of followers take their mischief elsewhere. Mbaise has moved on without him, and we have no plans to look back. The days of political shenanigans are gone, and Mbaise will not be held hostage by the hallucinations of those whose time has expired.

– Ambrose Nwaogwugwu is the Senior Special Assistant to Imo State Governor on Electronic and Creative Media, he wrote from Aboh Mbaise.