One of the greatest signature projects of the Owelle Rochas Okorocha government since it came into power in Imo in 2011 is the world class Imo International Convention Centre, (IICC), located on the ever busy and popular Bank Road/Assumpta Avenue.
The magnificent edifice was started and completed by the Rescue Mission government of the present regime which is a big plus. Since its existence that coincided with the 2014 Democracy Day Celebration, it has played host to profile events like the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and political meetings of the governor.
Interestingly, the flagitious tale residents of the state and passers-by who make use of Owerri roads to the various destinations, have continued to go through during any major event at the new structure attempts to becloud the joy that heralded and has been trailing the coming of IICC.
For the umpteenth time since its existence, residents and road users went through nightmarish experience on Saturday following the traffic gridlock and attendant “stand still” witnessed on Owerri roads during the wedding ceremony of the daughter of governor Okorocha, Uju and Uzoma, son of the secretary to the Imo State government, SSG, Prof Anthony Anwukah. The classy ceremony that can best be described as “Wedding of the Year” judging from drudgery that characterized the social event had its own fair share of the misery Imolites go through whenever IICC is on with a programme that attracts people from all walks of life. I am one of those who experienced the disdainful misfortune that particular wedding attracted to the populace. While I congratulate the children of the profiled citizens of the state for tying the nuptial knots in a memorable manner which hitherto attracted who-is-who in the country, especially the APC chieftains, it is pertinent to note that the “executive wedding” further exposed the unsuitable location of the IICC. I was forced to cut my movement short and forgo whatever I had to do in Owerri, the state capital that fateful Saturday arising from the “no movement” witnessed on the roads and streets. As a resident of New Owerri, I had functions to attend in communities at Mbaise and Ikeduru LGA. While the Control Post to Bank Road was blocked for road users, other adjoining routes became inaccessible because of intimidating hold up.
Despite the new roads baptized Inland Roads which are three in number built by Okorocha government to connect New Owerri to old town of Owerri across the Nworie River, the State capital was locked under the “stands still” movement. On noticing that there is no connecting road that is open to vehicle users, I tried the Onitsha-Egbeada-Akwakuma-Amakohia road that was at the receiving end of fleeing vehicles who wanted to access the other parts of state capital from New Owerri through Port Harcourt or Onitsha road. It was not only chaotic but another cul-de-sac for the “escapee” car owners wanting to wriggle from the “traffic hell” in other routes. I was stocked with others but managed to make a U-turn which became my saving grace to avoid spending undesired hours attempting to get across which ordinarily is not more than 10 minutes drive. After I made a detour, I was forced to pack my vehicle in a safe place around Control Post area of Onitsha road before embarking on a historic walk from Assumpta Cathedral to Douglas Road, before suffering other inconveniences of not reaching my desired destinations without the comfort of my vehicle. If I overcame the tedious journey with little stress because of my orientation in sports activities as an active football referee and athletic built, others never had it easy. While a friend who was also trapped informed me how he explored a bush part from IreteEgbeadaAkwakumaUmuonyeali to Okigwe road by Hardel junction, a sister-in-Christ found her self in a hospital after undergoing physical torture as a result of the road blockage.
Attempts to interact with the church member after Sunday service proved abortive when inquiries revealed that the woman in her early 50’s broke down after a walk with leg from Eke Ukwu Owerri Market, where she went to buy domestic items, to her World Bank, New Owerri apartment because of absence of cabs and keke.
A friend his became “Mungo Park” too on the fateful day Owerri was shut down because of the wedding of the children of the first class citizens of the state at the IICC. The dude who lives around Egbu Road, Owerri was locked up in New Owerri like me after attending a social function with the family. Attempts to make a break through proved abortive because of chocked vehicular movement. It was then he joined other road users in similar dilemma to “discover” another route from Irete connecting Ohii, another community in Owerri West before diverting to Akwakuma-Umuonyeali-Umudagu and Hardel Junction, Orji, to now find his way back home.
Last Saturday’s underserved pain was another sad reminder Imolites went through when the new IICC hosted NBA Conference few weeks ago. I was also a victim of the movement deformation residents of state underwent because of roadblock on major roads in Owerri.
On entering Owerri from Port Harcourt, River State, to access my office on Ikenegbu area of Owerri which will force me pass through Bank Road/Assumpta Avenue before diverting to either Okigwe Road or Whetheral Road to connect Mbari Street, It became absolutely difficult with the “no movement” situation. While I crisis-crossed all openings to gain access, I bumped into yet somet frustrated colleagues in the pen pushing business who were stranded and attempted to “camel” their ways to their respective offices in old town of Rotibi street offices of major national dailies. I picked Ndidi Okwudili of the Nation, George Onyejiuwa (Sun) John Kennedy (Daily Trust) the Leadership and National Mirror newspapers’ state correspondents around Concord Hotel area, who were in a helpless situation as a result of the “standstill” which barred vehicle users and kekes to operate. When it appeared that Owerri was shutdown for vehicle movement, we packed into my vehicle for a memorable “cross country” which saw me retreat to PortHarcourt Road, to FUTO Junction at Obinze and later joined the Ihiagwa Nekede Naze to enter the state capital through a rather traffic free Aba road. It was a great relieve.
The import of this commentary is that the location of IICC which has become the centre point of major activities in Owerri is improper and capable of rubbishing the gains to be realized from establishment of the fanciful convention place.
Bank Road/Assumpta Avenue is the hub of the capital city. The Warehouse/Orlu Road Roundabout, adjacent the IICC is the nave that can be said to be a point where many routes entering or leaving Owerri meet and traffic is distributed, dispensed or diverted to different destination.
It is at that point that those coming or leaving to Portharcourt, Onitsha, Orlu roads from Owerri take their bearing, hence the heavy flow of traffic on the road. Therefore, situating an event centre on the every busy road is counter productive and unwarranted. The adverse effects experienced whenever an event of great magnitude holds in IICC result to untold hardship.
Remarkably, the building of the IICC at the present location cannot be distanced from the awful policy of the present administration in having the knack to site most of their block work projects on major roads, junctions and access routes irrespective of the impact assessment deficiencies. The idea is to receive applause that “Rochas is working” without a rethink on its negative effects. It appears that the contributions and inputs of professionals in areas of building, surveying and development of structures were never considered in fixing projects locations. IICC is not the only project of the Rescue Mission government that is on the road based on the philosophy of the Okorocha government to ensure that road users and passers-by have a better view of his achievements. This grandstanding approach that exposes the present administration as one playing to the gallery and not really working for the interest of the masses saw the construction of the so called 27 General Hospitals near major roads which may not be conducive for medical treatment. Same applies to the position of the controversial 365 school building projects which the ownership is now dangling between the state government and the Universal Basic Education, UBE, a federal government agency. All the storey building school projects are located near the roads thereby leaving those in rural communities and obscure localities playing the biblical role of Aaron of Okorocha’s acclaimed developmental projects. Again, this fact was confirmed by the revered Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, during the August Ordination of Deacons as Reverend Fathers at the Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri. During the sermon, Obinna said that his visit to the rural areas showed no meaningful developments but he only witnessed “impressionists” projects. The Catholic cleric could be right if the roadside projects are considered.
One striking feature that should not be swept under the carpet on the IICC issue is the lack of continuity in governance that is fast beleaguering Nigeria’s growing democracy.
In apparent disregard to the common norm of “government is a continua”, new regimes tends to discard good policies of their predecessors. Though, this piece is not meant to dwell on lack of continuity in government of Imo State, but suffice it to note that the Rescue Mission government is undoutably prosecuting “vengeance” mission, whereby all the structures it met must be dismantled to erase the memoirs of past administrations. It could be this vengeance mantra that motivated the Okorocha government to jettison a similar convention centre called Ahiajoku Centre, that is located in a serene and deserved environment. The Ahiajoku Centre that is of the same status and capacity with IICC has been abandoned and turned to a meeting point for reptiles under the guise of housing a non existent and functional Imo Chamber of Commerce.
The Ahiajoku Centre was started by Okorocha’s immediate predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and was 80% completed before Rescue Mission came on board in 2011. Located at New Owerri, the event centre at the New Government House, Owerri, had hosted several functions before Okorocha assumed power without attracting negative influence on the movement and business activities of the residents. Okorocha also made use of the facility.
Perhaps, Okorocha does not want Ohakim to have the glory of instituting the Ahiajoku Centre his government will complete. The state fund used to execute the rejected Ahiajoku Centre may have become a waste, whereas residents go through excruciating anguish wherever the new IICC plays host to visitors.
Another factor that also exposes the oddities associated with discontinuity in programmes of government is the abandonment of crucial road networks that would have been alternative routes to gain access from New Owerri to old town. Granted, Okorocha deserves kudos for opening three new roads that connect the old city from Concord/Akanchawa axis from New Owerri, it is significant to note that they also lead to another route that is connected to the IICC location through the controversial Jpros road. But the Inland Roads do not offer any remedy to traffic gridlock when events hold at IICC. A better opportunity for road users would have been the abandoned Onitsha Egbeada flyover project that connects Okigwe Road. That road would have greatly eased traffic in the state capital but for the present administration’s lack of interest for completion of the first ever flyover initiated by Ohakim.
Similarly, the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze bye pass is another vital access route to get to the other side of Owerri metropolis without touching the heart of the state capital. Unfortunately, only articulated and 4-wheel SUV vehicles for now can maneuver the rusty roads that appear more like a death trap and car spoilers. The present administration has shown enough desire to fix it from the Nekede Junction to the Polytechnic gate. Efforts should be geared towards fixing the other side that crosses from Ihiagwa to Obinze.
By and large, the state government should devise a means to save Imolites the calvary and distress suffered on the roads in the capital city whenever IICC comes alive with activities. Ironically, I am fit enough to represent Imo in trekking for next National Festival games after the long trek to mark the wedding .
