By Pamela Eboh
Ochanja traders, Fegge Landlords Association and residents on Wednesday took to the road to protest what they described as fake news by detractors.
Recall that a video of a washed off portion of Ochanja road which is still under construction started trending on social media on Monday night after a heavy downpour in the state, claiming that the raid has been washed off
But a statement by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Aburime described the online video as a misinformation.
He said that the online video which was recycled by mainstream media depicting a washed-out portion of the road, accompanied by false claims that the road was poorly constructed and commissioned weeks ago by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is categorically false claims.
The statement read, “Following heavy rainfall on Monday 25, March 2024, which caused uprooted trees, downed electrical poles, and damage to public infrastructure across the state, a section of the Ochanja-Iweka Road, currently under construction, was also impacted.
“Contrary to the misrepresentations of the viral video and accompanying insinuations, the washed-out area of the road is one foot of recently asphalted pavement. Besides, the Road remains an active construction site, with work ongoing even during the heavy downpour yesterday.
“The brief vulnerability of the newly paved section is attributed to insufficient curing time before the heavy rain due to the construction schedule. Also, a silted drainage system caused the accumulation of water that affected the small, unfinished section while the road’s solid stone base, throughout its entire length, remains completely intact.
“Thus the trending video deliberately includes misleading footage of a different, already existing road that is not under construction.
“The Ochanja-Iweka Road project is neither finished nor commissioned by Governor Soludo. He has only commissioned the Port Harcourt Road and Niger Street Road in Onitsha South LGA, both of which are demonstrably well-built and functional.
Corroborating the Press Secretary’s claim was the Commissioner for Works, Engr Ifeanyi Okeoma who visited the scene in company of the contractor handling the road, Mark Chu.
He had condemned the false alarm, describing the video as an affront to throw spanners into the good works of the state government.
On his part, the Manager of the construction company handling the road project, Zodic Construction Company, Mr Mark Chu said, “We only have about one foot left of the entire More-Upper Iweka Road Project Ochanja and we are still working and we have continued from where we stopped.”
Also the Chairman, caretaker, Fegge landlords Association, Mr Okwudili Obinwanne who spoke during the inspection of affected road described the viral video as capital lie adding that they are residents of the area and witnessed the heavy downpour.
He insisted that nothing happened, saying, “We find it difficult to believe that someone in his right frame of mind would go to the extent of blackmailing the governor with such falsehood”
Meanwhile, residents of the area as well as traders in reacting to the false alarm trooped out to Ochanja round about constructed by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, with placards to protest the falsehood
According to their spokesman, Chief Okwudili Obinwanne, they are protesting against the antics of desperate politicians who are sparing no effort in attempt to discredit the good work that Governor Soludo is doing in Ochanja, Onitsha and Anambra State as a whole.
He insisted that nothing is wrong with the road, saying, “The contractor was putting the initial layer of asphalt on the road when the very first major rain in Anambra fell with the attendant flood unseating the hot asphalt that is yet to settle on the stone base and cement stabilization components that had earlier been compacted on the stretch of road.
“That is as far as we know. Nothing happened to warrant the recriminations and campaign of calumny being carried against Soludo and his government.
He disclosed that for over four decades, subsequent governments have come and gone, including the opposition government without thinking of reconstructing or doing any meaningful palliative on the Ochanja road.
Obinwanne added, “Before now, the road was one dusty and cratered stretch that never crossed the previous governors minds. But within two years of Soludo’s administration the story changed in a manner that beats our imagination. Moreso, the quality of roads are Julius Berger standard, with street lights to match.
“We will not tolerate any politician that dares to play dirty politics with our welfare.”
On her part, Mrs Imelda Akunobiva retired Teacher from Fegge said that successive government never remembered the road since 1999 until Governor Soludo came on board.
She recalled how harrowing it was going to work through that road, noting that they would carry spare shoes and dresses to change when they get to school.
Another prominent orange merchant in the market, Mrs Eucharia Chukwuma, aka, nwanyi Achalla said, “Solution is a game changer. Flood water used to carry children when their was rain here but all that have become history.
The excited market no women sang the praises of Governor Soludo as they matched up and down the Ochanja road under construction.
Some of the placards read, “Solution is working, “Kene Chukwu maka Soludo”, “Our Tax is Working”, “8 Years For Charly NWA Mgbafor” “Odenigbo Aguata, You have No Opposition”, among others
