By Ikechukwu Iroha.

No one becomes a leader without support from the people. Interaction with people helps the Government in the area of placing priorities. A Governor is a servant and must humble himself to always interact with people on whose mandates he is standing as a Governor.

It was a great opportunity for Abians to evaluate the performance of Dr Ikpeazu while answering “Oliver twist” on other issues.

Ikpeazu

At Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Umuahia, Isiala Ngwa, Obehie and Aba, It was an venue to lay out vision and strategy of the Government for meaningful discourse.

Dr Ikpeazu presented to electorates the opportunity to ask questions on Govt programmes, including ones that are challenging.

Leaders who are open minded adopt town hall meeting strategies in their quest to practically demonstrate all inclusiveness garnished with transparency and accountability.

The Governor spoke openly on his plans to improve the standard of living of Abians. According to him, people are right to expect more from the Government.

He used the opportunity to explain why his government started strongly with projects at Aba.

According to him, “Aba will drive development of the rest of Abia State as it will provide the bulk of the much needed IGR that will pay for projects in other places”

While responding to a question on youths empowerment, he urged Abia youths to take advantage of his administration’s entrepreneurial and skill training, aimed at developing and incubating relevant skills in the area of carpentry, building, tilling, hair dressing, furniture making, hair braiding, mason, electrical work etc so that contracts on those areas could be awarded to them .

He stated that his government had established skills acquisition centers in all the senatorial zones of the state and that “the era of okadarization and kekenization of Abia youths in the name of empowerment is over.”

While explaining that his Government believes in good quality of work, he pointed out that it was this quest that led to the introduction of rigid pavement technology (cement technology) to road construction at Aba in particular because of the soil type in the city.

Roads constructed with this technology have a minimum life span of 15 years but can survive as much as 30 years, depending on the load and good drainage system.

The association of tricycle Riders through their representative Comrade Nduka, were on ground to appeal to the Governor to reconsider the ban on tricycle after 7.00pm.

The Governor assured that such move is possible if the association will subject themselves to proper identification/numbering. He stated that the riders must be easily identified so as to help reduce crimes perpetrated by members.

It was an assurance of hope for the people with disabilities. Their request for a representative at Dr Ikpeazu’s cabinet, employment of members and school for the deaf, were given proper attention. The Governor promised to make sure a school for the deaf is established before December through the commissioner for Education.

The Governor informed the people that his government is actively engaging the Federal Government to either permit the state to reconstruct PH, Ohanku, Ikot Ekpene and Obohia roads which are federal roads requiring urgent attention or help the state by immediately reconstructing these key roads. As a palliative measure, he directed the commissioner for work to immediately identify alternative roads around those roads for the state to work on while waiting for expected favorable response from the federal government.

Governor Ikpeazu promised to judiciously apply the N1billion Agric loan from CBN and the N4 billion primary schools rehabilitation grant from the federal government. “We promise Abians that we will rehabilitate at least 10 primary schools in each local Govt of the state”

The Governor used the opportunity to assure Abians that Golden Guinea will soon begin production and further add jobs for the youths of the state.

Dr Ikpeazu assured farmers of timely supply of Fertilizers while maintaining that government will target core farmers once the # 1 billion Agric is ready for disbursement. He said that his Government will build Agric village at Ogwe community with Clusters in poultry, fishery and other farm produce. He reassured farmers of his readiness to support mechanized farming in the State.

On Bursary to Students, he assured that Abia is reviving the scholarship board and that scholarships must be concentrated only on tertiary institutions within the country.

On primary schools free meal, he explained that the free meal scheme is a pilot programme and will cover 4 schools per LGA. It is only for Primary Schools at rural areas. He went on to State that Govt will build warehouses in the three Senatorial Zones to house food stuffs. He explained the the project is partly sponsored by industrialists in the State who wish to sustain the good works of the State Government.

On cattle grazing in the State, the Governor reiterated on Government’s position in cattle grazing, he made it known once again that Abia State has no grazing land for cattle.

Government is consulting presently to establish Abia free trade zone. Government will also build a fly over at Osisioma Junction to help ease traffic…

While reacting to a question that bothers on crude oil benefits, the Governor Stated that Abia is a member of NDDC and must get her benefits at all times. He said that the time to explore oil in Abia while maintaining offices outside the State, is a thing of the past.

In his reaction, he pointed that whoever that is interested in oil exploration in Abia State must have offices in Abia for the benefit of Abia youths. He used the opportunity to tell Abians that Hyundai engineering company and other two companies have indicated interest in building refinery in Abia State at Owaza in Ukwa LGA.

The programme which was first of its kind, was well attended by Abians.