In the last edition of this weekly column dubbed Agwo-di-nuju, I relayed the nasty experience residents of Imo state which I am part of, undergo whenever the new state of the art event centre in the heart of the town called Imo International Convention Centre, known as IICC for short, hosts a any major event.
I gave two instances where the state capital was literally shut down as a result of “standstill” movement on major roads in the state capital. From the outset, this commentary page made its debut at the birth of Trumpeta Newspaper in late 2011, it was my resolve to devote it to socio-political, cultural, religious and contemporary issues that directly or indirectly affects the society and life of Imolites and to an extent Nigerians. It was not at running anybody, group, government or persons down for any reason because the framework is not only aimed at informing and educating readers but also act as an agenda setting back page commentary targeted towards a better society.
Irrespective of the warped reasoning and partisan proclivity some elements have showcased while trying to react to issues raised in Agwo-di-nuju, I wish to state and stand to be faulted that the column has always carried a fair comment with constructive criticisms as its trademark. It was this spirit that gave rise to the laconic work on “the Imo International Convention Centre and Rest of Imolites”.
Moments after the piece hit the newsstands last week Thursday, calls and text messages bombarded my phone including divergent reactions sent to my facebook account in the social media. Of all the reactions, one from an associate and friend who enjoys patronage and support of the present government it is not important to disclose his identity in this forum, took a swipe at the contents of the “IICC and the Rest of Imolites”.
Even as the fellow is entitled to his opinion on issues since speech is free, he forgot that facts are sacred in journalism and cannot be obliterated in a balanced reportage or commentary.
However, I was relieved and somehow justified for the exposure on the commentary two days after my piece appeared on the newsstands when another influential and authoritative medium, The Leader newspaper replicated my work in another form. The celebrated print media house owned by the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese in its Sunday October 19, 2014 edition Vol LV No. 41 also at the backpage position states “Relocate Imo Conference Centre Imo Govt told
As if it was a conspiracy or an attempt to give my work credence, the report of Leader was a replica of the earlier piece I titled. For the avoidance of doubt and to eliminate verbosity, the report The Leader newspaper goes this way: Relocate Imo Conference Centre Imo Govt told.
For the second time in two months, Owerri literally came to a halt. Residents, commuters and motorists alike gnashed their teeth and bit their tongue in frustration, following long hours avoidable traffic jam caused by the activities going on at the Imo International Conference Centre (IICC).
It is now clear that centre located on the busy Assumpta Avenue ‘Bank Road:, at the erstwhile Imo Hotels, is a bad idea.
Although the centre is one of the glories of Imo-State and achievements of this Government, it brings more suffering than satisfaction to the masses each time it is being used to host a major event.
“I trekked from Wetheral road to where we live at World Bank. It took me nearly three hours, my feet are so sore and hurt badly, I couldn’t get any keke going in that direction, said a 22 years-old student who would not given his name but explained that he went to town to recharge his cable TV.
A former director in the ministry coming from a meeting in twon and going home in town and going home to Irete also felt frustrated in the traffic.
“I was stuck in my car for five hours. Just imagine, after a hard day, I though I was going home to shower and take a rest only to meet the nightmare, the whole of the road from Assumpta Avenue to Orlu road was blocked up and we just sat there waiting.
I got to Irete by 10pm from Owerri and this is a journey that would have taken me less than half an hour,’ she complained.
Several others cried out and complained about the traffic jam, it was not the usual police checks or the manholes opening up indiscriminately on newly paved roads near the vicinity that were causing the delay and frustration. Instead. It was the wedding reception of the Governor’s daughter being held at the IICC.
Prior to the wedding, it was the week-long national conference o fthe Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held at the centre that grounded Owerri. Traffic came to a halt because the premises of the IICC was insufficient to hold the number of vehicles coming in for the big events and Government did not make an alternative parking available.
The only option has been to pack on the road and block up as much space as possible, unmindful of the suffering and sadness it causes people.
“If the NBA conference was Government’s way of testing the waters, it evidently saw how rough and tough it was for the commuters.
Government should not have allowed a repeat. Rather than put the people through another hell, the Governor could have found alternative parking for his guests or simply held the wedding at the Concord Hotel he said he renovated,’ Chukwuemeka Obi, a civil servant told our reporter.
Some motorists sat in their cars and dozed off from tiredness while others crawled to their homes in pain and disappointment.
Commuters trekked for hours to get to their destination all because of a wedding that could have been held outside the heart of the city.
“If this is a listening Government let them do something about the IICC because it is causing more harm than good. In fact, the ICC should be relocated outside the city and the place used as the new home for the state library which Government unwisely moved out of its former place, a lecturer who refused to given his name said.
Meanwhile, from my facebook inbox comes these reactions
Ezepeace Eze: Vissionless heartless wicked ppl. All dese suffer suffer jus bcos two little children ?
Chinyerem Okereke: 16 mutual friends
Na wa ooo
Benjamin Emeka: 13 mutual friends
Rochas ishi azu!
Chijioke Ezike: Rubbish.
Chinagorom Christopher: Owelle remains the best Imo ever had. Imolites are solidly behind him. whether u guys like it or not Owelle is our choice
Duruoha Nzenwa: Rochas is concentrating in setting things up within the metropolis to tell strangers how magnificient the state is but fail’s to recognise that there is hinter imo, remote imo and outskirt imo. those clapping today will be the first to reveal the exorbitant cost of delivery now; tomorrow. other states are eating 10% and investing 90% but imo rulers are eating 90% and investing 10%.
Unichi O. Alexander: 3 mutual friends
Absolute nonsense
Uzoma Chiedozie: Christopher Chinagorom how does what you wrote connote with what the author has written. All these praise-singers sef. If he had written this in a harsh tone, you would be crying you want constructive criticism. If this is not constructive criticism what is it?
Dara Smart Ifeanyi: 8 mutual friends
Hmmm what a long write up.. U are on ur own oo
Tony Nnaji: Friends with Ossy Dimaku and 16 others
What an epic piece,the truth is that rochas must be kicked out in 2015.
Ezrau Ezra: story story story Rochas we knw till 2019.
My-Teddis Okwudiri Ebirim: Hahhahahahaha…. You guys are funny ooooo APC & PDP i cant really tell till……..
