Indeed, any humane leader like Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State will always consider the needs of the people more than his own interest because he has the responsibility of meeting and protecting people’s interests and feelings.
Some good people of Imo State both those within Imo and outside Imo have expressed happiness as the Governor earmarked one billion naira for the rehabilitation of healthcare centres in the 305 electoral wards across the state as part of his agenda on primary healthcare delivery.
Also, the Governor had approved the construction of 135 kilometers of rural roads, five kilometers in each of the 27 local government areas, before the return of the next rainy season, which is my interest in my today’s writeup.
This is a welcomed development, worthy of commendations. I want to sincerely appreciate the Governor for this approval, however, my interest is not only to laud the Governor, but to also remind him of being careful of those who will carry out these projects.
Your Excellency, what we are experiencing at the recent construction site of some of the major roads in the state, is not encouraging especially on Owerri Orlu road, Owerri Okigwe road, MC/Urratta road, Naze/Nekede/Iheagwa road, World Bank road, Umugwama road and other roads in Owerri Municipal Council.
These roads are major roads, but the contractors handling these roads are not doing solid work. On some of these roads being constructed, today you see red sand, next month you will see gravel, next you see smoothening of the road by the handlers. One of the things I noticed from the construction is, is either the contractors are there to sabotage government’s efforts on rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of these roads or not doing their work well.
Advantageously, once all these roads are solidly and fully rehabilitated, reconstructed and recovered, Your Excellency, such a feat gained will not only make Imo people to be more happier, but it will enhance the economy of the state, constant visiting of car repairers will reduce by car owners, hike in transportation will reduce. And those can only be actualized if the contractors take the construction of these roads seriously.
My inestimable readers, at this juncture, let me refresh our mind of why this project will be executed just to clear the mind of the doubting Thomases. Well, for some time, I decided to rest my pen, for some undisclosed reasons, but I think I need to pick it up again.
I have read and heard of people comment that the construction of these roads might not be feasible. This informed the choice of this epistle.
It is on record that Governor Hope Uzodinma, some time last year, presented a budget to the tune of N381 billion for 2022 to the Imo State House of Assembly at its temporary complex Owerri for approval.
Presenting the budget, tagged “Budget of Wealth Consolidation and Recovery”, Uzodimma noted that it was made up of N96 billion recurrent expenditure, representing 23.36 percent and N284 billion capital expenditure, representing 74.64 percent.
I remembered vividly that the Governor said that the objective of the budget was to satisfy the desires of the people by promoting sustainable economic development in the state through the consideration of Imo people’s needs- that was why he went further to tag it “People’s Budget”.
The Governor added that the budget was also aimed at putting the wellbeing of the people at the centre of governance through massive reconstruction of dilapidated infrastructures, especially roads. He stated that this would be achieved by adopting a participatory governance through open budget process, human capital development and grassroots development, among others. This informed his idea of hosting all the LGA leaders in the 27 local government areas of the state at the Government House Owerri recently. In that meeting, all the leaders were asked by the Governor to go and write out the needs of their people, which will be captured in the next budget.
The Governor posited that the 2022 budget, christened Budget of Consolidation and The People’s Budget, was prepared with contributions from town unions through their respective representatives at the House of Assembly. This was the Genesis of road construction. Let me seized the opportunity of informing all that the construction of 135KM roads in all 27 LGA is 100 percent completed hence it was well captured at the 2022 People’s Budget.
Your Excellency, we are still trusting God to use you greatly in reducing the burden of people through your 3R mantra of rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of the state to the betterment of all citizens.
