A Chieftain of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, has described as unfortunate the fact that the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is bowing out of office while Ukwa West, the only oil-producing local government area in the State is living in total darkness.
He said it was worrisome that the Governor never paid any attention to Ukwa throughout the eight years he piloted the affairs of Abia State, adding that leaving Ukwa West without electricity was the height of neglect of the people.
In a statement released on Sunday, Ogbonna said it was expected that while the Governor was busy commissioning projects to mark the end of his tenure, he should have also completed and commissioned the Uratta – Obokwe – Ogwe Road, the only project started by his administration in Ukwa West.
He said that the government of Ikpeazu deceived the people towards the election by releasing a meagre N30 million to some of his party loyalists to restore electricity in Ukwa West but the people could only enjoy light for less than two weeks, adding that the action was the height of deceit.
It should be recalled that Ikpeazu recently commissioned the following projects in Abia State: the permanent site of Abia State Government house, Specialist hospital at Aba, Garment factory also located in Aba, diagnostic hospital, Isiukwuato and others.
The Labour Party Chieftain noted that it was sad that some people in Ukwa West went ahead to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the last general elections in spite of the neglect of the oil-rich area, stressing that the deprivations suffered by Ukwa West people in the hands of Ikpeazu was unprecedented in the history of Abia State.
He expressed confidence that by the time the Abia State Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti fulfils his commitment of relocating the headquarters of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Commission, (ASOPADEC), to Ukwa West, resuscitates the abandoned Ogwe Golden Chicken Poultry and others, the need would naturally arise for the area to have regular electricity power supply.
