Ebonyi to build 2-flyovers in honour of Bishop Okoro

 ...Holds ground breaking ceremony

BY VICTOR NWEGEDE

Ebonyi State government under the watch of Governor David Nweze Umahi has set to build two new flyovers in the honour of the retiring Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Nnachi Okoro in Ebonyi State.


Umahi stated this on Tuesday during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro Flyover at Hausa Quarters Junction in Abakaliki, the state capital.

"We will be naming two flyovers after you, this one here (Hausa Quarters Junction in Abakaliki) and the one we are going to build after the Timber shade. We need to save lives because there's one spot that is taking lives. We will do the flyovers, please, don't ask how the money will come. The money will come hence it bears Bishop Nnachi Okoro Flyovers," the governor said.

He said the building the flyovers will  last at maximum of nine months, stressing that, the two projects would 'cost between 1.2 and 1.4 billion Naira.' 


He further explained: "This  flyover is going along major high way and essence of it are in two folds. One, there's a conflict point here, and there are too population at this place called Ali-Awusa. 


"So, we have started the street road, and another street road there. The two roads have started through the Ministry of Lands and Survey, that is going to house the projects."


He added that alot of light would be put in place alongside the flyovers to continue boosting the beauty of the state capital city. 



Governor Umahi appreciated Bishop Okoro for all the supports given to his administration and quality service rendered to humanity even at his retiring service age as to the Christendom.



He however, stated that the naming of the two flyovers after the outing Bishop were the least his administration could offer  to the clergyman and described him as a symbol of love, peace, unity and what every Christian should be in the state.


"For you to have attained this feat my Lord, it's by God's special grace. And anybody who really know the true meaning of life will always to be like you but this takes alot of sacrifices. 



"So, my Lord, we've been thinking how to honour you, and I have to thank you so much for the service you have rendered to our state; for giving us also  Fr. Abraham Nwali - you may not understand what CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) has done in our state when you talk about building peace and unity of the state. You may not understand but those Exco-members, the stakeholders, the council chairmen, the development center coordinators, they understand the price the CAN has paid for our dear state.

"So, I want to thank you. We wanted Fr. Nwali to be a Commissioner but you said 'no'; that you don't want him to be that. We said that somebody must come from the CAN to be the conscious of our government, because, what are the Catholic Priest looking for, they have forfeited everything for our Lord Jesus Christ. We kept begging you and you considered that he should be an Adviser only, and he is the single Adviser we have in the state. We are grateful for this. 

"A lot of people have consulted you over many issues and on your own, you delivered through Fr Nwali, who used to come and advised us how those things will be done and they never failed," the  governor appreciated.

He called for the assistance of the leadership of CAN in the South East zone to intervene on the weekly sit-at-home order by the proscribing Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which in his words, has been hijacked by hoodlums to unleash mayhem on the citizens in the south East even though it has been allegedly suspended. 

Earlier in his remark, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Ogbonnaya Obasi Abra, disclosed that the state has built over 10 flyovers before Bishop Okoro performed the ground breaking ceremony.

The event was followed by a valedictory dinner party at Banquet Hall, Old Government House, Abakaliki held in the honour of the outgoing Bishop by the state governor.