The people? of Ideato South? Local Government Area of Imo State were recently hit by a massive? erosion, cutting them off from neighbouring states of Anambra and Enugu. In this interview with STANLEY UZOARU, the deputy governor, Sir? Jude? Agbaso,? who also doubles? as the Commissioner for Works, explains the efforts of his ministry to ameliorate the situation.
Recently, you inspected the erosion site at Ideato South with your boss, what was your impression of the site?
My impression of the erosion that occurred at Mgbee road that links Imo state and Anambra state through Akokwa is terrible. I was on the road 5 days earlier and there where dangerous, threatening signs of the erosion.
At the onset of the rain, we? invited? FERMA, who came and inspected the same? erosion site and after studying? the magnitude, decided? to correct it? before? it erodes further and we had an understanding with them,? they promised to refer it to the ministry? of works if it was beyond? them. They said they would commence? immediate repairs on the? erosion site which was considered major at that point but has now become minor? compared to the recent? occurrence there.?
We carefully studied the erosion menace there and brought in a contractor who started work on the site. We started with the re alignment of? the road, to the right hand side, avoiding the erosion and? building new drainages, that? was why? you saw the massive cutting? of the hills? on? the? right hand side of that road.??
I continued? visiting? the site, but? the last time? I was? there, , there? was this story? of a deluge? that happened? there at Mgbee road, it was? a? massive? landslide? that took off the road? and completely obliterating the site? where the original? road existed, with?? about 5o? meters depth. It would have been? a complete disaster, but the saving? grace was the work? we had started earlier.
We? had done? part of that hill, so? we continued? to create a? passage way, to compound? the situation, further? down the same? road of about three and a half? kilometres. After? the Mgbee bridge, another? landslide occurred, complicating the whole situation? certainly beyond? the capacity the state government can handle considering? that this was a Federal?? road connecting? major? communities? in? Anambra,? Imo? and even Enugu state.
We have written? to the Federal Ministry of Works informing them of the urgency and need for them to? come and remedy the? situation.? It? is a very sad? situation .
How has the erosion affected the people of the area?
It has made life a living hell for those people in that area. The whole of Ideato nation are suffering. This part? are major farmers.? They? produce palm oil, yam and other agricultural? products? in large quantities which they must transport to major towns? like Orlu and Owerri to earn their daily bread.?
As it stands now, no big truck can pass? that road except smaller ones, as the rain has continued to pound that area. Work is extremely precarious. The rain has been persistent, damaging work done there.? Each time laterites are poured on the road, the rain washes them off.? We? are hoping? and praying? that? this place? would be made motorable? soon to enable? the people? of the area have? their? daily bread.? It is not just the Ideato nation but also? those connecting Anambra and Enugu.
There are so many road constructions?? going on in the state. Is there any specific date for their completion?
What we have done with road construction in the state is quite commendable.? When we came on board, we saw that there was a dire need to open roads in the hinterland, the central policy of the state government is to make Imo a one city state and there was the dire need to open up the roads to link the rural areas.
Since? it is? the interest? of His Excellency to make agriculture paramount? in this? administration, the rural roads? you see are important because food would? have? to be transported on these roads to the major cities, and the state government also has plans? to asphalt all the major roads in the state.
Fortunately, about 24 kilometres of roads we are constructing are ready and asphalted; latest by May 2013, this first batch of the roads would be delivered to the people for their use.
We are going? to continue like that in the next season, but? the guarantee we are giving to the people? of the state? is that all roads? started by? us must be? completed. We are? working hard. We have started? the mobilization of the contractors to go back to their sites? since? the? rains are? almost over.?
In the urban centers like Orlu, Okigwe, work is ongoing. After the rain, the contractors would be re-accessed and some of them are being?? paid already.? By September, most of the major roads would be completed except?? those that needed to be dualised.
Considering how flood have been ravaging most towns and communities in the country, do you plan to construct these roads with drainages?
Yes, all the roads in this state now? are designed? to come with drainages, but? most? of them need drainage,? especially? the hilly parts? of Orlu? to control? the flood.
Alright, on a lighter mood.? Your elder? brother, Chief? Martins Agbaso? must be? very proud? of you considering how? you have been able to handle? two big offices. Do? you think in the same direction?
I agree with? you totally,? I think? I have tried? to manage both offices well, both as the deputy governor? of the state and as the? commissioner? for works, I have put? in my best? and hope that? he would? be proud? of me.
You were not really a politician before you assumed your present position, so far how do you see politics?
You cannot say I was not a politician because? I? did not run for positions in the past and at the same time, I cannot say I am a politician? given how politics? and politicians go about it. What? I am doing and should be concentrating on is? providing? good governance for my people.? That is why I am working very hard with our hardworking governor to transform this state.
That is my brand of politics. You can say my politics is supporting the governor to provide free and qualitative education, which?? most people have thought impossible. My politics is looking into agriculture through the Community Government Council of the state government, enhancing the performance of farmers in the rural areas of the state.
My politics is making sure that there is infrastructure for my people. My politics is all about accountability, transparency and fairness. Before I become part of this administration, these have always been my thought. If being all these is what you call politics, then I am a politician, but if politics is all about disenfranchising my people, causing them misery, embezzling their funds, then count me out of politics.
Most people see Owelle Okorocha as a philanthropist, how do you see him?
He is a philanthropist of note; he created the Rochas Foundation for the indigent people in the society who could not send their children to school. He gave free education to more than ten thousand children, I have never seen any organisation or? individual that has done that and on a personal note, he is the kindest person I have ever met and dealt with. He has been a good role model and teacher, he cares for the common man on the street.