The Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Ifeanyi Uchendu on Wednesday 17th of August played host to a visitation team of members of the Abia Infrastructure Mandate, AIM, on a working visit ably led by its Convener, Chief Engr Odo Ijere, Okpotemba of Ohafia.
The advocacy group whose main objective is to put infrastructural development at the front burner of governmental affairs in Abia State had earlier visited the governor of the State, Abia State University, Uturu, Onuaku Industrial City, The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, and some frontline candidates in their mission to sensitize various stakeholders of the very importance of making infrastructural development the main thrust of good governance.
While delivering his opening remarks at the official lodge of the Deputy Speaker in Umuahia, the venue of the meeting, Engr Odo Ijere informed Rt Honourable Ifeanyi Uchendu that AIM was a child of circumstance birthed at a time Abia State had become a laughing stock due to moribund infrastructural development and which narrative needed to be changed. And also informing the host that the group of over 200 Abia professional elites both at home and in diaspora comprises of a multidisciplinary, multifunctional and nonpartisan members chosen from across the 17LGAs of the state.
The Convener While noting that Abia Infrastructure Mandate decided to pay a working visit to the Deputy Speaker in recognition of his passion for physical development which ably ranks him as the Honourable member with the highest number of constituency projects attached to his name since the history of Abia legislature as an institution and further saying that Abia people are proud of his legislative imprints.
Engr Odo Ijere, thereafter on behalf of the group laid before the Deputy Speaker, some proposals of the organisation that will promote infrastructural rendition in the state and imbibe the precepts of good governance for the good people of Abia state. Among these proposals are:
1. A bill to establish an irreducible minimum of 60% capital budget expenditure to enhance the infrastructural delivery across the tiers of government in the state.
2. A bill to establish an infrastructure Management Commission to among other things, develop and manage an Abia infrastructure masterplan, carry out regular and routine infrastructure audit, conceptualise, institutionalise and manage critical infrastructure like the Airport City Project, Monorail development projects, independent power projects, ports complex etcetera.
3. The Deputy Speaker to use his good office to work with other stakeholders in the House to help to douse the tension building up in many flashpoints in the State due to simmering insecurity namely: Umunneochi cattle market insecurity crisis, Okigwe Uturu kidnapping axis, Ohafia communities crisis with security agencies etcetera by moving motions of urgent public importance to sensitize Nigerians on the crisis.
The Deputy Speaker While responding to the August visitors thanked members of AIM that visited for their bold vision and initiative that he believes is charting a good course for Abians. He praised the initiators of the Abia Infrastructure Mandate for taking proactive steps in institutionalizing good governance through advocacy and said he was proud to belong to the group. He further pledged to work with the group to make infrastructural development the main thrust of governance through legislation and wholeheartedly adopted all the proposals of the group as a way forward. He promised to take the group’s proposals to the House of Assembly upon resumption from recess. He was later inducted as a patron of the group by being adorned with the group’s infrastructural cap.
There was group photographs and merriment to garnish the occasion. Those that attended were : Chief Engr Odo Ijere, Convener, TPL Lekwa Ezutah Olugu, Architect Chief Lucas Eme, His Honour Chief Eze Eke, Lady Akudo Ogbonna, Professor Amanze Akpuda, Engr Ogbonnaya Emeka Uma, and Comrade Ibeabuchi Empire Kanu. The meeting which started promptly by 1.30pm dismissed at exactly 4.30pm.
