Posted by By CHIDI NNADI AND VAL OKARA, Owerri on
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has decried the apathy of previous administrations in the country to complete projects crucial to the citizenry, lamenting that it had given birth to logs of abandoned projects across the country.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has decried the apathy of previous administrations in the country to complete projects crucial to the citizenry, lamenting that it had given birth to logs of abandoned projects across the country.
He spoke while on one-day working visit to Imo State on Monday , where he eventually commissioned the 20 years old abandoned Okigwe Regional Water Scheme estimated over N6 billion .
He remarked that such a lackadaisical attitude was indicative of 'our attitudes as a nation, where we are and our determination to build our nation." The president was miffed that the project initiated in 1980 and which only received the Federal Government's intervention in 2002 was expected to have been completed within a period of four years but for inappropriate funding and subsequent abandonment.
He however admitted that such a retrogressive official malfeasance was not only peculiar to Imo State but a cancer eating deep into the fabric of the entire nation. He said this therefore, 'gives me the opportunity to call on all of us to take our responsibilities seriously plan carefully to ensure appropriation of funds to ensure that projects designed and started are completed on time."
Drawing inspiration from the Okigwe Regional Water Scheme commissioning, President Yar'Adua assured that he would continue to direct a responsible government through adequate planning, prompt execution of project and completion to deliver more democracy dividends for the people .
Also speaking, Governor Ikedi Ohakim said that the water scheme has a capacity of over 40 million litres planned to supply water to five local governments in the state as well as a local government council in Abia State .
According to him, the Federal Government intervened in 2002 with a contract of N347.1 million and later approved additional N226.3 million, adding that, as a result of the importance of the water scheme to the citizenry, the state government also made substantial financial contributions to facilitate the completion of the rehabilitation.
Ohakim also disclosed that his administration had completed 10 roads in the state capital, while another 21 are on-going with the dualization of all major roads leading into Owerri, the state capital ‘we have rehabilitated 33 other water schemes, including 27 mirco water schemes in collaboration with UNICEF . We are currently rehabilitating 30 public buildings as well as educational institutions and industries.'
He also said that his administration had created jobs to the teeming youths in the state through the Clean and Green Initiative, ENTRACO cadets scheme, landscaping and beautification of the state.
President Yar'Adua's presidential plane touched down at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri at about 10.28 am and came out to the warm embrace of enthusiastic crowd waiting anxiously to receive him.
The president who did not observe the normal airport protocols was received by five state governors from South East including his host Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Peter Obi (Anambra), Chief Theodore Orji (Abia), Chief Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Chief Martin Elechi (Ebonyi).
Others include minister of commerce Chief Charles Ugwu, Minister of State for Environment , Chief Chuka Odom, Senators Ike Nwachukwu, Chris Anyanwu, Osita Izunaso, and Slyverter Anyanwu, Minister of state for Water Resources, Ademola Seriki and Chief Hope Uzodinma.
Also at the airport were Chief Fidelis Ozichukwu, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Prof Jude Njoku and other States commissioners . The Ekeukwu Owerre market at the heart of the state capital was closed down as traders, artisans and school children lined on the major street of Owerri to welcome President Yar'Adua.
The President later laid the foundation stone of the state new government House at the New Owerri.