By Steve Oko
UMUAHIA—Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has ordered the immediate rehabilitation of Ibeama Primary School, Ndume Otuka, the alma mater of Nigeria’s first military Head of State, the late Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, as well as the road leading to his ancestral home.
Otti gave the directive at the weekend during a civic reception held in honour of the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Austin Nmeregini, at the school premises in Umuahia North Local Government Area.
Responding to requests by community leaders, the governor directed the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti, to inspect the road leading to the late military leader’s residence and submit a report for its rehabilitation.
He also instructed the Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, to commence the process for the speedy rehabilitation of the historic primary school.
“The first request is the road that leads to General Ironsi’s house. I will direct the Commissioner for Works to go and inspect it and report back to me.
“The second is the school. We are rehabilitating schools across the state, and this one will not be left out. The ASUBEB Chairman should return here on Monday and begin the process of fast-tracking the rehabilitation of the school,” Otti said.
The governor said the intervention aligns with his administration’s ongoing programme of upgrading public schools across the 17 local government areas of the state.
He thanked the people of Ndume Otuka for their support and assured them that his administration would continue to deliver critical infrastructure and development projects across Abia.
Earlier, the President-General of Ndume Otuka Development Union, Okezie Onyemauwa, and Chimezie Ndukwe commended the governor for his developmental efforts and appealed for the rehabilitation of the road leading to General Ironsi’s home and the primary school he attended.
In his remarks, Nmeregini, thanked Governor Otti for honouring the invitation despite his busy schedule, describing his presence as a demonstration of his commitment to the people.
The event attracted top government officials, lawmakers and political stakeholders, including former senatorial candidate, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, and member representing Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency, Ginger Onwusibe.
