People of Umuobia Olokoro in Abia State have made a passionate appeal to Governor Alex Otti to urgently intervene in the reconstruction of their only access road, known as the Off New Heaven Junction Umuobia Road. The people described the road as a death trap that has claimed lives and subjected them to untold hardship, especially during the rainy season. They said the poor condition of the road has disrupted economic activities, limited access to emergency services, and made daily movement extremely difficult. While calling on the governor to come to their rescue, the residents praised him for his visible infrastructural development across Abia State, expressing confidence that his leadership will continue to bring progress to the people beyond 2027.
Speaking in detail, Chief Chinedum Nwokocha, the Traditional Prime Minister 1 of Umuobia, said the suffering of the people has gone on for too long and can no longer be ignored. He explained that the Off New Heaven Junction Umuobia Road has become almost impassable, forcing residents to risk their lives daily while going to work, school, hospitals and markets. According to him, the community has lost valuable time, money and even human lives because of the condition of the road. He appealed to Governor Otti to see their cry as a humanitarian call, stressing that fixing the road will restore hope, improve safety and open up the area for development.
Also speaking, Dr Umekwe Odinaka, the Traditional Prime Minister 2 of Umuobia, described the situation as ironic and painful, considering the level of development within the community. He said Umuobia has the highest number of housing estates in Abia State, and possibly in the entire South East, yet it lacks a proper access road. He noted that investors, homeowners and developers are discouraged by the poor state of the road, which has slowed growth and reduced the value of properties in the area. Dr Umekwe commended Governor Otti for his impressive infrastructural achievements across the state and urged him to extend the same commitment to Umuobia, assuring him of the people’s continued support.
A resident, Eukaria Ude, narrated the daily struggles faced by families living in the area, describing the situation as heartbreaking. She said children find it difficult to go to school, commercial vehicles avoid the area, and sick people suffer delays when trying to access medical care. She pleaded with the governor to act quickly before the peak of the rainy season, warning that the situation could become more dangerous. According to her, the estates in and around the road host close to 500 buildings, meaning thousands of people are directly affected by the bad road every day.
Chief Mike Ike Onyenachi Ogidi, while speaking, expressed deep concern over the number of lives that have been lost as a result of flooding caused by the poor condition of the road. He explained that whenever it rains, the road turns into a flowing stream, sweeping away motorcycles, damaging vehicles and putting pedestrians at serious risk. He said some residents have lost loved ones to flood related accidents, while many others have narrowly escaped death. He appealed to the Abia State Government to act swiftly, stressing that human lives are more important than anything else.
The gathering ended on a high note as women, men and youths of Umuobia Olokoro came together to chant solidarity songs in support of Governor Alex Otti, expressing confidence that his administration will intervene and bring lasting relief to their community. The residents said they believe that the needed intervention can only come from the government, pledging their unalloyed support for the governor ahead of the 2027 elections. They described the chants as a symbol of trust, hope and appreciation, while reaffirming their belief in his leadership and commitment to the development of Abia State.
