By Steve Oko

Member representing Umunneochi state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Matthias Ume Nwachinemere, has refuted speculations in some quarters, that he unilaterally removed Akawa-Aroikpa road project in his constituency captured in the 2024 budget.

The lawmaker who spoke with Vanguard in Umuahia, said there was no iota of truth in the said speculation which he dismissed as the handiwork of blackmailers.

“It’s not true. I didn’t remove any project in Umunneochi from the budget, how much more a road in my own ward. That road is in my ward”.

He said it was illogical that a lawmaker would remove project from his constituency already captured in the budget when in fact, lawmakers lobby to have projects from their constituency accommodated in the appropriation bill.

The Labour Party lawmaker  explained that all the projects from the constituency in the 2024 budgets were the ones prepared by the previous administration, adding that he did not insert any project in the current budget.

“What we saw in the budget was the ones  prepared by the past administration. Practically, no new project was added.”

He further explained that he had late last year, moved a motion on the floor of the House, urging the state Government to rehabilitate roads in Umunneochi including the Akawa-Aroikpa which he described as very strategic.

A copy of the motion sighted by our Correspondent read:”That the House urge the Abia State Government to consider Umunneochi in the 2024 and/or subsequence budgets for the construction of roads to give the people access to their neighbouring states through Mbala to Awgu in Enugu State; Eke Isuochi through Achara to Enugu expressway; Eke Eziama to Nkwo Umunze in Anambra State; and Akawa through Aroikpa to Ihitte in Anambra State. These will enhance the commercial and socio-political well being of the people”.

He said that the Akawa-Aroikpa road which links Abia and its neighbouring Anambra State, is of great economic importance to both states, wondering how he would be the one stopping its renovation.

” I come from Ubahu, and my people use that road to link to Umunze in Anambra State. So, that road is very important to me”.

The lawmaker who said that the road remained very dear to him, assured that any project in the constituency not captured in the current project, would be considered in subsequent projects.

added. 

He, therefore, urged his constituents and members of the public to discountenance the insinuations, which he said, was being peddled by those scared of his achievements.

In a separate interview with our Correspondent, former member representing Umunneochi state constituency in the Abia House of Assembly, Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri, said no lawmaker in Abia had been able to put any project in the state budget in the past 20 years let alone removing from it.

He explained that it has always been the exclusive of the Governor, adding that it is only lawmakers who are in bed with the Governor that can succeed in influencing the inclusion of projects in their constituency in the budget.

Hon. Ezekwesiri said it was not possible for the lawmaker to have removed the said project from the budget contrary to the insinuations.

The former lawmaker cautioned against unnecessary blackmail against public office holders.

Vanguard Newspaper