Come And Live And Be At Rest. Calabar. My first trip to the City of Calabar, the Cross River State capital was about 1991. That was my first year as a student of the University of Calabar, otherwise called Calabar University. I am a Malabite without apologies. Great Malabites and Malabresses, I hail you. Wonderful people who are wonderfully made in the great republic of Malabor.
My first experience in Calabar was not palatable. My childhood friend, Ben Onunwa had earlier warned me not to expect to flag down a taxi or bus as was common in Lagos where I was coming from. He instructed, I should look out for “Alok, alok”, akawuke” or Okada. The motor bike was about the only means of transport then. There were scores of mentally deranged people scattered all over the major streets then. From high way to Mary Slessor, Orok Orok junction by Goldie, Etta-Agbo, Marian [Ndidem Usang Iso] up to Efio-ette junction. Many streets were filled with gullies and dirt. Ibom lay-out was an eyesore. Most houses around Orok – Orok, Uwanse-Akim, Mbukpa etc had no functional toilets. My room mate then, Edimo Atemkeng, a Cameroonian was always making jest of our peculiar toilets then at Orok -Orok. Water was a luxury except in Unical.
This was the story of Calabar in early 90s. Has the story changed now? Yes, it has changed beyond words and to the pride of all Cross River people and friends. It took the vision of a Donald Duke who insisted in making Calabar Clean and Green. It took the good nature of Calabar inhabitants and the entire Cross River people who accepted the Clean and Green concept of Governor Donald Duke. Don.D as he is popularly called rebranded Calabar, created a clean environment that all of us are proud of today.
Not every one accepted this “movement” initially, but the result today in an excellent vision from a Visionary Leader.
Governor Lyel Imoke, the current Governor of Cross River State continued from where his predecessor stopped. He did not need to abandon old projects to start new ones that probably will not match the beauty of his predecessors’. Godswill Akpabio is doing the same in Akwa Ibom State. Peter Obi did the same in Anambra State. What is happening in Imo State?
Can any one advance any reasonable reason behind the destruction of Ama 3k Recreation Park? I hear the Imo State government is planning a Shopping Mall and Car Park to be built at the site. What happens to the trees that were cut down? For whatever REASON, WHY WILL THE GOVERNMENT OF IMO State kill all the green areas at old Statesman Newspaper Premises? Why must government build on every available empty space of land in Owerri? The capital city of Owerri has gradually been degraded. I will not be surprised to see the government begin to uproot all the trees and flowers on Egbu road, Okigwe road and else where trees and grasses were planted. Why did the government kill the park beside the State library? Only to fill the place with a concrete jungle. The Garden Park near the stock exchange and Access (Afri Bank] has been abandoned without maintenance. Who in actually interested in this whole “Round about” charade? There was no need to demolish the existing ones. It is a waste of money. Please.
Those Great Septic Tanks built by Rock View hotel has not added any beauty to Owerri. It is more like a sepulcher covered with a white wash. The giant bill board with the picture of his Excellency Rochas Okorocha is merely used to cover those giant tanks of human “wastes”. Please, the ministry of Environment should look in to that, it in not a good viewing pleasure at all.
I can go on and on. Has this prevent government abandoned the two Fly -overs started by Ikedi Ohakim? What is going on with the Ring Roads? I am beginning to think that the original design has been abandoned. God have mercy. Let those in the ministry of Environment take a trip to Calabar. Since you will not bother to know or continue with what the former Governor Ikedi Ohakim left behind, come to Calabar and learn. In Calabar, the waste containers are cleared three times daily. If you cut down a tree, you plant five as penalty. You don’t throw waste materials indiscriminately.
\At least you can reduce the period of waste disposal in Owerri from 1-2 weeks to every three days. Our dear Owerri is gradually becoming the “City of Refuse”. This is rather appalling. There is every need for Owerri to come back to Clean and Green.
For those who live in Calabar, please advise the Public Utilities department that the streets are getting darker. What is happening to the street lights at Eta-Egbo, Mary Slessor, IBB Road through the Airport among other streets. The street lights complement the beauty of Calabar. Please don’t let us down. I mean those of us who boast of the beauty of this Ancient Paradise City.
Once again, I am extending an invitation to as many people as possible to have a glimpse of Calabar. A caveat, make sure you have enough money. Take my advice because Calabar fine ooo!!!
Who Will Cross This River First?
fter the 2011 Gubernatorial elections and the subsequent declaration of APGA victorious over PDP, the then Deputy Governor Sir Jude Agbaso and his House of Assembly Member, Hon Dan Ikpeazu, without waiting for their formal inauguration into offices hit the roads, visiting constituents and perceived projects which they may have promised to attract, execute or achieve for their people during their electioneering and campaign days.
One of these projects is the collapsed Mgbahiri Ezimba Emii River Bridge in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State and the only bridge that connects the people of Ezimba Emii Autonomous Community and their neigbours that live, along the Ishiuzo EgbuUmuawuka-Mgbahiri Emii-Umuene Obiangwu Airport Road, the shortest and quickest route to. The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport from Owerri and its environs. For the duo, it was one promise the APGA Government cannot fail to fulfill , especially with the unconditional support and votes the people gave the party throughout the elections.
It was therefore, most heart warming to the inhabitants living along this road when the Rochas Roads Revolution kick-started that, they decided on their own, to remove any obstacle that will prevent the smooth execution and full realization of this very road, that was first budgeted for, during the Late Gov. Evans Enwerem’s regime, by allowing their buildings, shops, cash crops and even electric poles to be removed at their own cost.
At the end of the clearing and bulldozing from Ishiuzo Egbu to ObiangwuAirport end of the road the rainy season set-in and the people were assured that work will resume immediately after the rains. However, at the resumption of construction only the Ishiuzo Egbu to Umuawuka Emii end of the road has been realized with asphalting fully, completed.
What a cheering news, at least the length of the road construction has been reduced, one will say. But as should be expected, all can not be cheerful with this news because the remaining portion of the road, that is, from Umuawuka-Mgbahiri Emii-Umuene Obiangwu Airport is now being suspected to have either fallen in the hands of an incompetent and or unwilling contractor or ‘politically kept on hold’ because the people believe, and strongly too, that God will not allow or permit the abandonment of this road project again.
The reasons for the above assertion is not far fetched, firstly Gov. Evans Enwerem ‘Mature’ initiated the road project but could not award it for construction before his exit. Secondly, Gov. Achike Udenwa ‘Onwa’ tried and awarded contract for the construction of the bridge only and lacked the political will to execute it. Thirdly Gov. Ikedi Ohakim ‘Ochinanwata’ merely listed the project twice for budgeting and construction but failed to act) may be waiting for a second term. Lastly, it will also be recalled with sadness that in the recent past, it was reported that a student drowned in the river while trying to pass through the makeshift bridge across the river on his way back from school.
With the exit of the Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Works, Sir Jude Agbaso and his inability to cross the river one hopes that, his replacement with his kinsman Hon. Nick OparaNdudi as the new Commissioner for Works as well as from the same Emekuku/Emii Political Block, the apprehension of a possible ‘political keep on hold of the project may no longer be feasible.
However, since only the completion of the project will guarantee the final construction of the bridge, it will be interesting and worthy to note that recent opinion poll on this road project indicates that the people appreciate so much the little work that has been done, that their most desire for now1is the construction of the bridge, which they hope will reconnect them with their relations and friends within and outside their area.
This expectation is very high, because the people believe so much in the ability and capability of the Rochas Roads Revolution and hope it will surely see to the full realization of the entire project before long.
So, the big poser now is, since Enwerem, Udenwa and Ohakim couldn’t cross this river, who among Hon. Dan Ikpeazu, Hon. Nick OparaNdudi, H/E Eze Madumere and His Excellency, Governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha ‘Owelle’ will cross the Mgbahiri Ezimba Emii River first.
Only TIME will provide the answer.
