Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu said yesterday that the 2023 elections will be about legacies and skills, not mere politicization and promises.
Ikpeazu, who said he shamed his critics with the inauguration of the Osisioma flyover and roads in Aba, said he would not allow any politician to use posters about his executed and completed projects.
The flyover named “Okezuo Abia Flyover” was initiated and completed by Ikpeazu to ease traffic on the Osisioma Junction, which is known for its bottlenecks.
Ikpeazu said the completion of the flyover gave him so much joy that he looked boldly into the faces of his doubters and laughed at them.
He said, “It’s politics time. If you want to contest an election in Abia, you have to show us what you have done before. From your family, show us your work. Do not stick posters on my hover, my lamp post and my projects. Put your posters on your projects, not on my own projects,” Ikpeazu said.
He added: “”Today is a sad day for those who have taught that this overview will never be complete. It’s a sad day for those who called it a drill and called it a center table.
“It’s a sad day for the Sanballat and Tobiah (detractors) those who called this flyover ‘Center Table’, it’s a sad day for them. I mourn them as they hide their faces in shame. All those who thought this flyover wouldn’t happen, my word to you, shame on you.
He said the Osisioma overflight, despite all doubts, has now solved the traffic congestion problems experienced at the time in Aba.
Ikpeazu, who said the essence of governance is solving people’s problems, praised the Aba business community and Abians in general for achieving the project. He described the day as special for people of goodwill adding that for the opposition and those who lambasted his government while the construction of the interchange was going on, it was a sad day for them.
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According to the Governor, he invited Governor Nyesom Wike to inaugurate the projects as he is the father of overflights in Nigeria and understands the value of an interchange.
Also speaking, Wike praised Ikpeazu for changing the state’s development narratives. He said he was proud to be associated with Ikpeazu even though he said Abians did not make a mistake in electing him as governor.
He praised Governor Ikpeazu for using the state’s meager funds to carry out projects for the people, saying that with the projects the governor has carried out, his senatorial candidacy and the election of other PDP candidates in the state are safe.
The Commissioner of Works, Barr. Bob Ogu, revealed that the interchange was designed by Ikpeazu as soon as he came on board in 2015, while the actual works started in 2017. He expressed his joy that the Governor’s dreams in conceptualizing the project had been realized and congratulated Abians on the achievement.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Hon. Christian Kamalu described the commissioning of the first ever interchange located in Osisioma as historic. He thanked the Governor for the construction of the interchange and highlighted its importance to Aba’s business environment.
The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Current and Former Members of the National and State Assembly of the two States, Members of the Executive Council of Abia State were among other dignitaries who attended the event
Ikpeazu said he deliberately chose Wike to command the project because Wike is the father and mother of Flyovers in Nigeria, adding that there is no better person to command it other than Wike, that he described as Mr. Flyover.
Wike said he was proud to partner with Ikpeazu because it has changed the narrative in Abia State when it comes to infrastructure.
“I don’t associate with those who can’t show anything. Ikpeazu is a man who knows what to do for his people. That’s why I said wherever Ikpeazu is, I’ll go with him.
“Ikpeazu and I have come a long way. No relationship can be bought with money. People don’t understand the modus operandi of what we do. If you like going to meet Seyi Makinde, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Samuel Ortom, nothing can change.
“We are together. Who will see this thing and not be happy? They said Governor of Abia State is a boy, Wike is a boy, Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Seyi are boys, but see what do the boys! Let them as men show us what they do.
“They hate us because we want a deal. We only ask for an appropriate share of our political positions and they hate that. Don’t worry about abuse on me. If they like, let them abuse me anyway, but we’ll know who’s relevant when the time is right.
“The policy is to deliver when the time is right. When the jungle comes of age, we will know those who have the ability to say that is where our state will be. Ikpeazu has the ability.
“Don’t bother, politics is propaganda. When I wake up in the morning and nothing has been said about me, I’m not happy.
“When I came, I said to my friend, where did you get the money? Abia State is not receiving a huge allocation but because it is determined after 31 years to break history.
“Your work has brought luck to all other PDP candidates in Abia. Do not be discouraged by doing good deeds for the people.
