I just returned from a short trip to and fro Port Harcourt, en route Aba, where i went to attend my kid brother's wedding. I was shocked to find virtually all roads within Aba impassable. The state of disrepair and disuse of Aba roads is a huge source of embarrassment to those who knew the essence of the town and a shame to the incumbent government of Abia State. Meanwhile, i saw very large billboards bearing "Aba is working; Ochendo is working" adorning those deplorable and impassable roads. 

From the Ariaria end of the popular Faulks Road to St. Eugene's Catholic Church in Eziukwu, Off Osusu Road, I counted over 20 'craters' in the middle of the road, as we went on a circuitous journey through Okigwe Road, because Osusu Road is now unsightly and no longer motorable. Yes, the whole of the once busy Osusu Road up to Ama Ogbonna is now covered with wild overgrown weeds and green ponds infested with algae, fungai, amoeba proteus, paramecium candautum, etc.

This scenario prevented me from visiting my family properties on Osusu Road and Umule Road, which were ordinarily very proximate to the venue of the wedding, as even 'Okada' riders would not embark on such a venture, irrespective of the high consideration offered them.

How could this happen, when Abia State has a governor that's always making false claims on radio and TV? What manner of leaders do we have in the South East? I was reliably informed that many companies and men of means have since relocated to other towns and cities where life still looks normal or bearable. In fact, one of such people, a friend and popular successful Aba businessman of time past, attended this same wedding ceremony that took me to Aba from Calabar, where he had relocated to. People now relocate in droves from Aba to places like Ikot Ekpene and Uyo in neighbouring Akwa Ibom State. This was hitherto, unheard of.

In contrast to this sordid experience i had in Aba, i marvelled and convulsed with excitement at the top-drawer road infrastructure i saw in Enugu the last time i was there. Gov. Sullivan Chime who never boasts in the media on his stewardship in Enugu State has performed wonders there. That's why the positive reality of good road infrastructure on the ground which is not publicised at all, will hit any visitor there with great impact. But in the case of the loquacious and garrulous Abia and Imo State governors who pay very high premium for undeserved publicity in the face of little or nothing to show for it, it could be very annoying to any dispassionate assessor like myself, who is not a partisan politician, but a stickler for good and people-oriented governance.

Gov. Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State is as quiet as a tortoise and also as motionless as a crab; hence never brought under media scrutiny and rarely mentioned by even Ebonyi indigenes, probably due to inertia resulting from old age, or his astute mastery of the art of playing the underdog. Nevertheless, it must be said that nothing uncommon in terms of achievement has come out of his tenure.

Anambra State is currently embroiled in an inconclusive gubernatorial election. We have yet to know whether INEC will live up to its billing and give us a true winner in that election, or follow the tantrums of the pretenders who are asking for its cancellation merely because of isolated inadequacies. I want to believe that Gov. Peter Obi has done well, particularly in the sphere of financial discipline. I however feel unsatisfied with his handling of certain landmark events during his tenure, like the discovery of the Ezu River corpses, the demolition of buildings suspected to have been used to habour ritualists or kidnappers and infinite detention of owners of such buildings, without proper judicial intervention, and the Lagos State deportation of Ndigbo saga. To this day, Obi falls short as a good socio-political strategist, by my humble estimation.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is my first attempt at making any critique of any kind on Gov. Theodore Orji, and it's deliberately anchored on just one issue: the road network in Abia, as gleaned from my first-hand experience on my recent visit to Aba. Though Aba is not the capital of Abia State, yet, it's its commercial heartbeat. More so, i have it on good authority that even Umuahia, the Abia State capital, is a glorified village, judging by the road network. So, where's the mettle of Gov. Theodore Orji

on this issue? 

Finally, I chose to say less on Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State where i come from, because i've said enough on him any his misrule and governance of deception in Imo State. Simply put, many Imo indigenes are waiting for the next elections to kick him out of Douglas House, Owerri, if he attempts an unholy comeback.