Opinion: Engr Ikechukwu Emetu’s Spark of Change – Ohafia Electricity Restoration Project

For over four years, it has become an utterly a disturbing experience in the entire Ohafia and it’s environs for not having access to power supply, with its concomitant loss of businesses valued at the neighborhood of 3.6billion naira, which is an omen that has been described as an unprecedented occurrence since Ohafia was connected to the national electricity grid.

This power blackout in the entire Ohafia and it’s environs has crippled the business ecology in Ohafia, in addition to denying residents of the area, utility services that are derivable from electricity power supply services. This ugly incident is traced back in 2019 when it was reported that electricity poles connecting Ohafia power supply chain were pulled down by activities of vandals, bad weather, lack of maintenance and negligence. Unfortunately, electrical gadgets such as cables and other accessories can no longer be accounted for.

All efforts made by private individuals, series of petitions to EEDC by eminent Ohafians and fictitiously spurious efforts made by the immediate past government officials within the constituency both at the state and federal levels, all having proved abortive, neither did any of these efforts made by the forgoing stakeholders as it borders on the needs of power restoration in Ohafia coming close to any form of tangibility.

It can also be recalled that the past administration in Abia State lead by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu gave over fourty million naira to Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, the former member representing Ohafia south constituency/Deputy Speaker in the Abia State House of Assembly to ensure that electricity supply is restored to Ohafia communities. But members of IkeAbia Media Team who visited the site from Amaeke Abam to Okagwe confirmed that the PDP people were merely deceiving and lying to the people of Ohafia. As not even a single pole was installed by the Hon. Uchendu lead team as per this project till date despite all the lies that electricity supply have been restored in Ohafia.

However, in a bid to make sure that power supply is restored back in Ohafia and it’s environs, the vibrant and kind hearted Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr Ikechwuku Emetu, had during his electioneering campaign, promised to end the total power outage plaguing the industrious people of Ohafia for over 4 years. He had promised the people that “electricity supply from the national grid will be restored in the communities”. This he has solely undertaking.

Having earned the sobriquet; “Talk and Do” Engr Ikechwuku Emetu, less than two months into office as the Deputy Governor of Abia State, has swung into action in fulfillment of his promise of making sure that Ohafia is re-lighted at the shortest possible time. He had on July 07, 2023, notified the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) Umuahia office, of his desire to restore electricity in Ohafia and it’s environs, thus, requested to work on the main line of Abam – Ohafia 33kv line.

Materials required for the electricity restoration project have been procured, and a team of dedicated professionals, led by Engr. Egwu Agha Kelechi of HAGENCO Engineering Limited have embarked on this vital undertaking.

To achieve a comprehensive work delivery, two technical teams were drafted to the site, and both teams have made remarkable progress. Team A is diligently addressing the fallen poles and it’s associated accessories along Ozu Abam Expressway, while Team B is tirelessly working from the Ekoli/Okagwe junctions towards Nkwebi. New poles are being installed. The installation of these poles will be followed by installation of wires and other related equipment like distribution transformers. The Ohafia electricity restoration project is being executed with great determination and efficiency, resulting in tangible progress made so far.

However, the activities of those who vandalize and steal electricity supply equipment in Ohafia to sabotage the restoration of electricity supply to the communities was also curtailed as one of the kingpins of the vandals have been caught and reported to the.Ohafia Divisional Police Office at Ebem Ohafia for prosecution. The community had caught one of their youth leaders who was involved in the dismantling of poles, stealing and selling of bolts/nuts to metal scavengers then conspire to sell the poles.

Sane minds of Ohafia have thought and wondered aloud, of what it will benefit those individuals, whom, it has been linked to sabotaging the process of restoring power supply in Ohafia, at a time Ohafia people and their businesses have been subjected to excruciating losses. The current electricity supply situation in Ohafia has led to poor economic activities, economic hardship, unemployment, underdevelopment and uninviting environment for investors.

But the answer to the thought held by good and civil Ohafians is that, the political saboteurs in Ohafia, by destroying the electricity inventories, are only trying to use such effort to frustrate the exertions of Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu in the Ohafia electricity restoration project and, discredit the new government of Labour Party in Abia State after they were historically and incredibly dislodged as rampaging occupiers of the common wealth of Abia State.

To those who will pass this good news of power restoration in Ohafia across to the sponsors of evil and anarchy in Ohafia, it is of essence that they should be properly communicated to, that light has come to stay in Ohafia, and also, it must be properly understood by the mischief makers in Ohafia that Ohafia has been uprooted from the frustrating cocoons of darkness that it foisted on Ohafia people and their businesses.

Lastly, it will be advisable to these haters of good news in Ohafia, to desist from every act that is capable of putting them in the condition of culpabilities to any crime they may want to engage in, be it futuristic or presently, and also, they should internalize the fact that the new crop of elected government officials Ohafians have elected under the able leadership of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, Governor of Abia State, are inspired by translating to reality, as against the PDP faux of 24 years of total mismanagement of Abia State resources.

IKEABIA MEDIA TEAM
11/07/2023.