By Amah
Kindly share:
By Amah
Kindly share:
The recent controversy surrounding Senator Patrick Ndubueze’s claim that he attracted the “reconstruction” of the Eke Ahiara to Aba Branch Road, and the embarrassing collapse of the flag-off ceremony he attempted to stage, demands sober reflection, not emotional reactions. For a road that has tormented commuters for years and practically cut communities off from economic life, the people of Imo North Senatorial District, otherwise called Okigwe Zone, deserve honesty, transparency, and real developmental results, not political spectacle.
The senator’s public declaration was bold, but the evidence on ground has not matched his statements. The failed flag-off only deepened doubts, raising questions about whether there was genuine project approval, or whether this was another episode of political grandstanding, or worse still, was the senator trying to reap where he did not sow, just to impress?
And beyond the controversy lies another uncomfortable truth: it was profoundly immodest for Senator Ndubueze to be exuberant over a road project that benefits only a single local government in Okigwe Zone. Eke Ahiara–Aba Branch Road directly serves four local governments in Owerri Zone. So, what exactly did he expect the Senator representing Owerri Zone to do, applaud from the sidelines while he appropriated credit for a project whose primary beneficiaries lie outside his own district? The optics were politically careless and strategically shortsighted.
For a zone historically short-changed in infrastructure, such ambiguous, boastful gestures are not merely disappointing; they are dangerous. They undermine trust, reduce governance to theatre, and distract from the real developmental deficit Okigwe continues to suffer.
So, what should Okigwe Zone do under these circumstances?
The zone must formally demand from the senator clear evidence to back his claims. This is more so because when the traditional ruler of Ihitte Afoukwu called him a liar, invariably he was insulting Okigwe Zone because of the carelessness or over ambition of its senator.
Therefore, stakeholders, town unions, CSOs, community leaders, and youth movements, should insist that Senator Ndubueze provides verifiable updates. Accountability must become a standard practice, not an occasional reaction to scandal. This matter goes beyond a miserly crafted statement purportedly postponing the flag-off.
If the road was announced without genuine federal approval, or he did not attract it as claimed, the zone should petition the appropriate oversight bodies, including the Senate leadership and the Federal Ministry of Works. Silence only encourages future manipulation.
One of Okigwe Zone’s major weaknesses is internal fragmentation. The controversy must not be reduced to APC versus PDP versus LP. Every community along that stretch of road suffers the same hardship. Constituents should speak with one voice, for truth and development, not for partisan gain.
Rather than merely criticising, Okigwe Zone should use the spotlight to pressure the Federal Government to formally include the road in priority rehabilitation lists. If Ndubueze actually initiated the process, transparency strengthens his credibility. If not, advocacy will still secure the road. Okigwe Zone must make it clear that it will no longer tolerate ceremonial events that lead nowhere.
Let this incident give birth to a new model: a zonal committee of engineers, journalists, lawyers, youth groups, and community elders to monitor all federal and state projects in the area. This will prevent misinformation and keep leaders accountable.
Ultimately, the Eke Ahiara–Aba Branch Road is not about Senator Ndubueze. It is about the dignity, safety, and economic well-being of the people who use that road every day, which is what motivated the chicanery.
Okigwe Zone must seize this moment to set a new standard: no more vague claims, no more needless exuberance, no more abandoned flag-offs, and no more politics built on noise instead of substance.
This is the time for truth, unity, and decisive action.
In conclusion, Okigwe Zone must not allow this moment to drown it in frustration. Instead, it should draw strength from the hope of an emerging, credible son who will soon rise to mend the zone’s broken heart, a heart wounded by years of limp, uninspired, and sometimes careless representation. The disappointments of the past should not define the expectations of the future. The zone has great minds in abundance; and it will produce even greater leaders to represent her.
What matters now is unity, vigilance, and a collective resolve to demand better. Okigwe must hold its leaders accountable, but it must also keep faith that a new chapter is possible, a chapter led by someone who understands the zone’s pains, honours its people, and carries its mandate with integrity, competence, and humility.
Things may be rough today, but the future remains redeemable. Okigwe Zone should be consoled, encouraged, and fortified by the belief that its long-awaited season of true representation is not a myth, it is on the horizon. That is why my hunch tells me that the endorsements the elders and discerning constituents are making regarding the senate seat in 2027 may not be without substance. Enough of this bubu yaya!
