by Tony Icheku

The beast in Abian compatriots certainly wakes up when God's Own  state features in the news for the wrong reasons: Like when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, like one jerking up from a nightmare, takes certain bewildering actions - like the 'removal from office' of Jerry Awah, an official of ASEPA, Ikwuano LGA

Or worse still, when agberos go to war over control of Umuahia city-centre which Gov Ikpeazu personally pledged to beautify severally, but never kept his word.  

Governance in Abia is conducted in cult-like method, so one dare not  applaud nor question the reasons behind his removal.

However few minutes after Awah's removal, not minding it is Sunday, the GM of ASEPA, Eze Okwulehie arrived the Umudike, Ikwuano with trucks and men to clear the mountain of refuse that has accumulated there, so one does not need to be an Einstein to decipher why the poor guy was sent packing. We do know it is just for show, Jerry is one of the boys, and  he will sooner than later be recalled.

Let's ask questions the matter of Jerry's removal have raised: Who is in charge of ASEPA in Ahiaeke - Ibeku, where another mountain of health-threatening refuse dump is growing? Indeed, in several places in Umuahia and environs, there are such mountains of refuse dumps. The clear implication is that it is the GM, Eze Okwulehie who must have fallen asleep on the job, certainly not the men under him.

The laxity in ASEPA is a common feature of the Ikpeazu administration and examples abound: i. Not long ago,  Gov Ikpeazu did promise to 'sanitise' Isi Gate. Traders who had made that spot an emergency market were sent packing. Contract was awarded for the beautification of Isi Gate which in normal climes is Umuahia's City Centre. Today, the traders are back. The craziness is worse than ever, and 'agberos' rule there. Recently in broad day light Abians were scampering for safety as one faction of agbero dared the other with guns, matchets, axes over the control of the territory. 

ii. How about the madness at Umudike junction of the Umuahia -Ikwuano - Ikot Ekpene road? This spot is a stone throw from both Govt House and TIMASS - the agency responsible for road safety in the State. Like Awah, the head of TIMASS was once removed from office, but the noticeable laxity  in the functions of TIMASS is even worse than ever.

iii. Do we ask questions about ABROMA? Is it still a functional agency?

There are so much to say about the drifting administrators of Abia's commonwealth. Lest we be accused of de-marketing God's own state, we pause, but  Gov Ikpeazu need rule as one whom history will judge someday. M. I. Okpara is dead, likewise Sam Mbakwe, but people remember them fondly, kindly. Abians expect so little from their government, that one is ashamed to say there is government here because it fails ever so woefully to measure up to even the barest expectations - like refuse disposal for instance