Obasanjo Hails Otti at 46km Road Inauguration in Abia
On April 12, 2025, the air in Uzuakoli, Bende LGA, buzzed with a mix of excitement and relief. There, Obasanjo—Nigeria’s former president—stood next to Governor Alex Otti, cutting the ribbon on a road almost everyone in Abia had dreaded for years. The freshly reconstructed 46.36-kilometer stretch isn’t just any road. Officially renamed Joe Irukwu Way after the respected Ohaneze Ndigbo President, this link now slices directly through Umuahia North, Bende, and Ohafia, giving life to what was once a nightmare of potholes and endless jams.
Obasanjo, never one to hand out casual praise, called Otti a “miracle worker” for his job here. Not too long ago, traveling this road meant bracing for hours lost in the heat, broken-down vehicles, and, sometimes, encounters with bandits. Today, with smooth asphalt under their wheels, residents shave hours off their commutes—what used to take half a day now barely stretches past 45 minutes. Obasanjo told the crowd, "Good leaders aren’t everywhere. When you find one, support him." It was a blunt but clear endorsement of Otti’s push for practical change, especially in tough economic times.
The road didn’t just swallow up potholes—it’s helping communities breathe a little easier. People from Ohafia, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Umuahia North used to treat the old route like a gamble. Armed robbers and kidnappers preyed on slow traffic, while farmers watched produce rot en route to markets. Now, with 24/7 safe passage and faster transit, things are finally shifting. Commercial drivers report fewer roadblocks from criminals and even the police, deliveries are on time, and students get to school without fear.
If you walked through the inauguration crowd, you’d spot big names—the usual political figures, Labour Party faces, and local lawmakers. But for many, it wasn’t about the speeches. It was about seeing heavy trucks and school buses rolling freely across sections that used to flood or vanish under mud. Otti’s government has been under pressure to spread development fairly across Abia’s LGAs, and this project stands out as proof he’s trying. Insiders say his administration wrestled with rising construction costs and funding headaches, making the finished road something of a small miracle.
Obasanjo’s endorsement landed at the perfect moment. Abia’s residents, worn down by years of empty promises, seemed eager for proof that things can actually change. Otti used the spotlight to highlight other priorities too, like boosting education and tackling infrastructure gaps in smaller towns. People nearby spoke of how the project has already made evening rides safer and made it easier for small traders from villages to do business in larger towns.
The Local Pulse: Safer Travel and Fresh Hopes
Stand by any village square along Joe Irukwu Way and you’ll hear stories of the old days—cars swallowed by gullies, families stuck roadside at midnight. It drove many people to avoid visiting relatives or making market trips except out of necessity. Now, the new road means more than easy travel; it promises security, new businesses, and a shot at real growth for villages that felt left behind.
The question on everyone’s mind is, will the momentum last? Otti’s next challenge is maintenance and ensuring the economic benefits go beyond the ribbon-cutting photos. But for now, the mood is hopeful—one stretch of blacktop at a time, Abia looks a little less stuck in the past.