Let me begin by giving us an insight into Chinese products. All over the world, China is known as an Industrial State, most of the products are duly accepted and traded around the world: in the US,UK, Dubai, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Italy, etc, China products are booming the markets and they are known for standard goods. But here in Nigeria, China products/goods are referred to sub-standard goods probably because major business men/ Importers travel to China demanding mass production: a handful quality used to produce a large quantity of goods thus leaving the products sub-standard. Most of these products ranging from electronics, phones, clothes, shoes, etc, are therefore referred to as “China products” and nicknamed “Chinko or Chi-chi products” for those who know or use these products in Nigeria. Sometimes, Aba sub-standard products maybe labelled “made in China” because of recognition and approval but in recent times most Nigerians are no longer deceived by these labels.
This is an introduction to the topic of discussion, the Greek gift introduced in recent Imo State government. Imo State governance has become an area of concentration, a project for thesis and research among residents and Indigenes. During the time of Ohakim, Imo citizens massively rejected his government and unanimously accepted the government of Okorocha in his first tenure. Gov Rochas Okorocha’s expertise and humanitarianism was greatly acknowledged in and around the Eastern and Northern parts of Nigeria. All his praise was sung for his early years in office to the extent most indigenes named him “rukasi wa uzo” meaning “keep building the roads”, while underestimating the Greek gift, little did they know that they were already carried away with the preamble, this second missionary journey became an eye opener for all, this time, the roads have been nicknamed, “Okorocha’s China roads”. Lol! As funny as it sounds, most of these roads which are barely four years old are already in funny looking states. Whenever it rains, they are all in a mess. The drainages reveal to road users the level of drainage the road can honestly hold. Pot-holes are the songs on the lips of the roads, as a road user, you are mandated to sing and dance along with the “China roads”. This is for the roads within Owerri the capital city even roads in the so-called New Owerri are not left out in this pot-holes-dance. Back in the days, those pot-holes and dance moves were termed ‘gallops’ but in recent times, this ‘gallop’ is enough to cause miscarriage to an expectant mother.
When motorists are dancing inside the roads and streets of Owerri and their cars getting damaged due to pot-holes, what then becomes of the major roads outside and around Owerri city; major roads leading to other nearby states but within Imo State; for example, Owerri-Port harcourt road. This particular road, if it is described as being in a messy state that would be an understatement. If this road existed in some developed cities in the world, it would have been barricaded and termed, “Blocked, road not in use” or “road inaccessible”. Meanwhile, this is the only existing road that leads from Imo State to Rivers State and major part of the Southern Nigeria. The road is in shambles similar to Port harcourt-Aba express way. During the immediate past democratic era, stories had it that there was an arrangement between the Federal and State governments of Imo State and Rivers State to construct their Federal roads, this agreement, whether revolved or not, was not made known but as the story went on, roads users observed some construction movement within and around Port Harcourt-Owerri roads and down to Rivers State, the axis of Elele, Isiokpo, Omagwa, etc have all been graded, tarred and completed and are still greatly in use and in good shape till date. Some kilometer of roads were even created and constructed inside Isiokpo and its still in use. While Rivers State roads were getting completed, the Imo State counterparts were busy grading and expanding Umuagwo, Obinze, Avu and Umuapu, Ohaji roads and road users were already singing the news and praises of the governor and finally, these roads are partly expanded, graded, tarred, completed or abandoned. The complete roads,barely 3 years old are already singing and dancing the tunes of “Chinko projects” and “Chi-chi products”. I remember when the stores and houses of Umuapu-Oahji were demolished and some parts of the road expanded and graded but were never tarred or completed and today, the road has gone worse than there was any thoughts or actions concerning its construction. This is about “Chinko roads and Chi-chi projects”.
Now let us look at the supposed free education the amiable governor of Imo State introduced in his first tenure, from Primary to Tertiary level, a mere sweet talk to his political ambition. A smart and simple ‘abracadabra’; the more you look, the less you see. Where was free education in Imo State and where is it today? How can the government embark on free education when the teachers are not paid their salaries? During the era of free education, certain terms and conditions were attached to the Greek package; pupils were promised stipends monthly which never lasted. Students at the tertiary institute were later asked to pay the back log of their fees of which students protested and the governor did nothing tangible to stop these tuition payments. At the inception of this second term in office, the governor declared that free education be put to a stop following the striking actions by the teachers who were owed salaries, the governor therefore claimed that there was no more funds to run the free education programme. The question is, why embark on such “Chinko projects” in the first place? These are desperate political measures towards achieving second tenures in office.
Presently, most of the sectors in Imo State have embarked on strike actions. Imo State workers are on weekly protest, workers ranging from teachers, radio/TV (media) workers, lawmakers, pensioners, local government and state ministry workers down to youths and widows. Major protests centre on unpaid salaries/allowances, unfair treatment meted out to them and failing to meet demands promised, these protests are mostly coming up now, barely 100 days into the second tenure. Earlier, the State Government’s office attributed these strikes and protests to her political opponents and enemies, what about now?
This brings us back to the issue of Umuapu-Ohaji road in Imo State. This road is a center of attraction, a topic of interest and a hard nut to crack because it is situated on a major road which leads from Owerri capital city to Port-harcourt capital city. This road is so bad that it is shameful to refer it as a road. Anyone moving through this route to Port-harcourt would ask if the community leaders or indigenes have committed a crime against the Presidency or the State governor. Though it is assumed a Federal road and should be a Federal government’s project but every other Federal roads on this axis is much drive through friendly than this Umuapu road. From Owerri down to Umuagwo, Avu and Obinze, though the roads are not so fantastic; still a little bit of “Chinko roads” but its much of a paradise when compared with Umuapu-Ohaji road, moving forward to Elele, Isiokpo, Omagwa, Igwuruta, the road network is much better, smoother, neater and more of roads where communities exists. These better roads were achieved not quite long ago, sometime in the presence/era of the present Imo State governor.
Some may argue that Umuapu-Ohaji road is a Federal road and that it is not the responsibility of the Imo State government but I will keep asking this question, if the shambled areas in a Federal road is located in a particular State or Local government, does the road automatically become an FCT road? It is still the affected State people would refer to or cite when discussing a poorly managed or damaged road and it is still the State government that is mentioned in such discussions. A road user had to ask is that road not in Imo State? and another responded, "of course, just after the boundary between Rivers and Imo state, every other roads on that axis is in a mess". I therefore feel that the State government should strive to see that the aesthetics or good name of his State is not thrown to the mud. The good rapport between Imo State governor and the Presidency should be enough to hasten the construction and completion of this Umuapu-Ohaji road. Whatever magic the past Rivers State government used to achieve the successful completion of Elele and Isiokpo Federal roads should be adopted too to create a lasting impression on Umuapu-Ohaji roads.
The last time I found myself on this road, it was an experience I would not wish for an enemy, motorists had to drive through the village paths in a bid to find alternative routes and end this nightmare journey. Some youths ceased the opportunity to make a road block, demanding a minimum of #500 (five hundred naira) from every vehicle driving through the village paths and most drivers would have to part with that amount just to get through with their journey. No one would wish to be found on that road on a rainy day.
Whatever happened to the expansion on the roads some years back, depicting that some works were going on, after stores, houses and trees were helmed down, now contractors and tractors are yet to be sighted, and the road is gradually deteriorating to a death trap.
However, the Imo State road users and indigenes plead with the State governor and the President to look into the road amidst their thirst/quest for private jets which I am not against but I am very certain there would not be need for a private jet from Owerri to Port-Harcourt if the roads were better.
Recently, a driver plying the Owerri-Port harcourt road in a discussion, suggested that the indigenes of Umuapu-Ohaji should maybe use tree trunks to mount a road block in protest for a day or two so as to prevent any form of movement from Owerri to Port-harcourt on that axis maybe that would attract the attention of the government. Though this is not the best bet but it seems our government only reacts to the state of people when there are protests or violent disruptions.
Enough is enough for the wise, He that has ear, let him hear; Nigerians have suffered and lost so much just for the crime of just being citizens of Nigeria.
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