Paying compensation, a ritual that further endears Otti to God and humanity
By Eagle Okoro
For the second time in barely two years of being in office, Gov. Chioma Alex Otti has dutifully and faithfully paid compensation to owners of lands legitimately acquired by his government for developmental purposes. This is not only empirical and verifiable but obviously unprecedented in recent history of Abia State.
This uncommon and exceptionally humane gesture, never ever experienced under past administrations, especially in the last 24 years, has not only earned him a lot of public trust but also endeared him more to Abians and non-Abians of good conscience. God in heaven is also happy with him.
The humongous amounts involved in the payment of the two major compensations in the course of executing very critical, capital intensive developmental projects is not simply phenomenal but stands the governor out from his wicked and marcantile predecessors, who had opportunity and fortune thrusted on them by the benevolent spirit yet forgot to be humble (apologies to the legendary writer, late Prof. Chinua Achebe).
When former Gov. Theodore Orji muted the idea of “dualising” the former Ossah Road (now rechristened Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard), little did people know he would stop at bifurcating the existing road at the median with slabs.
At the inception of his project then, there were initial fears that buildings by the roadsides would be bulldozed to pave the way for an expanded, dualised road but not one structure went down. So, for Ochendo Global, as he was fondly called by his admirers, “as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen” – as we Catholics would always say.
For him, there was no basis for expanding the road, after all, Umuahia has always been a small town and bound to remain small with little traffic all year round, decade to decade.
Again, for him, it would amount to a waste of the available money that was better stored in jeepee and underground tanks for the future, than demolishing houses and structures merely to expand a road that was already considered to be serving its purpose, even though with serious seasonal hiccups at different junctions due to its narrowness.
To Ochendo and others of his ilk, the fear of pulling down people’s houses, shops and wall fences and paying compensation suppressed whatever the gains of expanding the road portended. So, better let the sleeping dog lie!
It was for the same mindset and reservation that his administration built such substandard, narrow roads in Afara, Ndume and others within Umuahia and its environs.
And for his lame, subservient, thoroughly manipulated successor, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Ph.D), it was better to pull down hundreds of people’s buildings and structures on both sides of the Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Abia’s economic hub, and proceed with the feigned rehabilitation of the road abandoned for well over a decade, cause the demise of the landlords and business owners on that stretch of road from heart attacks and hypertension, and thereafter abandon the project.
For a governor that prided himself on the mantra that “nw’Aba g’edozi Aba’, this pitiable development was more politically correct than not seen to have done anything on the road at all.
So, many families agonised, grieved and mourned due to Ikpeazu’s mindless and insensitive miscalcalculation. This is what Scott’s poet and lyricist, Robert Burns, referred to as “Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn”.
But for Gov. Chioma Alex Otti, there must be a difference in governance style – one characterised by fairness, equity ant justice – symbolising a New Abia. Thus, paying compensation to deserving persons and communities is a ritual that he has vowed to perform, whenever necessary.
He is so poised to leave a lasting, telltale legacy that would narrate the story to generations yet unborn that he came, saw and conquered. And, so, in alignment with his campaign mantra, Help has finally come to God’s Own State and Abians have ceased to weep and would certainly weep no more!
Since the inception of his administration with the historical and emotion-filled inauguration on May 29, 2023, the government has continued to churn out transformative, people-centred policies, programmes and activities that are geared toward building a new Abia of the desire and dreams of the proud founding fathers.
Thus, to ensure that he did not toe the ugly and tortuous path of his predecessors, he made sure that every single private building or structure demolished at the instance of his government for developmental purposes got cash compensation.
Hence, ahead of the commencement of the reconstruction of the 3.5-km, formerly four-lane Ossah Road into a standard six-lane dual carriageway, with equally standard drains on both sides, the governor
said at the official commissioning of the road for reconstruction, specifically in September 2023, barely four months after his inauguration, that all the 130 persons affected by the demolition had been captured and would receive their cash compensation.
Ironically, with the benefit of hindsight that no administration in the state in recent time had ever paid compensation to owners of property, either taken over or destroyed by government, in addition to the bitter experience of the Port Harcourt Road, Aba, which was still fresh in the minds of Abians, the governor’s promise was not only taken with a pinch of salt, but it also evoked palpable fear and apprehension that enveloped the entire Ossah Ibeku Community.
For instance, when the lands for the Timber Market as well as IBB Phase 1 were acquired from Ndume Ibeku, along with the Ubani Ibeku Main Market, under the administration of Theodore Orji, it was on record that although the people were given assurances that they would be paid compensation, the administration led by the “son of the soil” later reneged. Only God can tell the whereabouts of the huge funds allegedly appropriated for the purpose – perhaps the same story told about the phantom, non-existent N10 billion Abia Airport built by Ikpeazu and his complicit state House of Assembly. Herein lies the justification for the apprehension that gripped the Ossah Ibeku landowners because, as the saying goes, “once bitten twice shy!”
Interestingly, without any waste of time, the governor proved that there is a huge difference between him and his predecessors, who governed Abia treacherously, deceitfully and fraudulently for 24 long years.
He dumfounded the Ossah Ibeku landowners and allayed their fears, and while they were still grappling with doubts and apprehension, the State Government commenced the enumeration and evaluation of their buildings and other structures that were marked for demolition.
He immediately marched his words with action and gave approval for the payment of the compensation.
Addressing Abians in his maiden media chat on September 30, he explained that the government had paid N771 million compensation to the 130 Ossah Ibeku landowners.
The governor’s kind gesture heralded a peaceful and congenial atmosphere that prevailed for the short period the entire reconstruction project lasted. The natives, who were enthralled by the compensation, collaborated with the government and Craneburg Construction Company to ensure that the project was seamlessly executed and delivered in record time.
The government repeated a similar feat at Nsulu in Isialangwa North LGA, the site for the construction of the Abia Airport by the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Abia Government of Gov. Alex Otti.
It was again quite gratifying to hear the governor announce a few days ago that the State Government had fully paid compensation to the landowners, raising the hope that the laudable project would not only experience speedy and uninterrupted execution but has ultimately become a fait accompli.
The governor disclosed this at a civic reception/appreciation ceremony organised by political stakeholders in Isiala Ngwa North and South LGAs at Okpuala-Ngwa.
According to him, the government ensured that all the affected landowners received 100 per cent compensation before construction activities commenced.
The commendable gesture, which had helped to pacify frayed nerves, would expectedly engender an atmosphere free of agitations and bickerings, with the natives, especially the youths, now expected to rally support, one way or the other, to ensure the full and timely realisation of the monumental project.
It is hoped that a few grey areas that manifested in the process of the payment, which were unintended, would be easily smoothened out under the most positive and convivial atmosphere of give and take.
Without mincing words, Abia, God’s Own State, is on a threshold of being reimagined by the governor, who has demonstrated on all counts, without any equivocation, that he has come to serve Abia and humanity tenaciously and faithfully.
No wonder he is being rewarded bountifully every now and again by the huge presence of an unsolicited and unpaid crowd of admirers and supporters, running over one another and struggling anxiously to catch a glimpse of this “wonder man”, anytime he steps out into the street for a public engagement or project inspection.
No doubt, Gov. Otti’s good work has thrown him up for the world to see and appreciate. Truly, he is a golden fish which has no hiding place!
And, as the scripture says in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.
So, to God be the glory for great thing He has done with the gift of Otti to Abia, Abians and mankind, generally.
Eagle Okoro is a public Analyst and writes from Umuahia