Ufomba expresses support for Abia Airport project, says he lost multi-billion cement factory because Abia has no airport
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
A prominent son of Abia State from Isiala Ngwa North local government area of Abia State has thrown his weight behind the Abia airport project sited in Nsulu, also in Isiala Ngwa North.
Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba, a business mogul and a political icon who once contested for the Abia Governorship seat on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), disclosed that he lost the opportunity to set up a cement factory in Abia because the state has no airport.
Speaking to newsmen after meeting with Governor Alex Otti, Ochiagha Ufomba revealed that after reaching a deal with his foreign partners, they suddenly changed their mind when they discovered that Abia has no airport.
“I’m a seasoned businessman. I own Regan Cement. I just told him (the Governor) my experiences in Spain, where after signing a contract, the people went up to the map and said, ‘you don’t have an airport,’ and that project didn’t take off – my proposed two million metric capacity cement plant in Arochukwu,” he narrated.
“I’m a supporter of the airport project because of the economic benefits to our people. The Governor will not run away with the airport after his tenure. The airport is here for our use, for our benefit, and for the benefit of the industrial city and people of Aba. So, I’m a supporter, any time, any day,” Ochiagha Ufomba declared.
He therefore commended Governor Otti for the Abia airport project at Nsulu and reaffirmed his support for the project and also commended the Governor for working out a compensation plan for the landowners.
The former APGA governorship candidate equally advised opposition parties to embrace the positive things happening in the State and play down on the negatives, saying that Governor Otti is not known for failure.
Ochiagha Regan Ufomba, who said he is currently apolitical, reminded politicians that it was time for governance, adding that the Governor deserves the support of all to deliver democracy dividends to Abians.
“I think that after politics, comes governance. This is time for governance, we are all Abians. So, we should dial down the negatives and dial up the positives.
“As many political parties as we have, they would want to survive; they will always have their say, but the majority and those who believe will always have their way,” Chief Ufomba said.
“This is not my first time of speaking for Governors in power. I supported OUK (Orji Uzor Kalu), I advised Ikpeazu and today I’m here. I think that we should have a measure of collaboration that would move Abia State forward,” he added.
Speaking further, he said, “I believe there is no perfect system, and Governor Alex Otti cannot be 100 percent perfect,” and asserted the Governor has all it takes to succeed. “The Governor Otti that I know has no business with failure. You know he is a corporate person; he lived in Lagos; he is a seasoned banker, and he has what it takes to deliver the goods,” he said.
Though he said that he did not come to assess the Governor’s performance, he said he was impressed with what the Governor was doing.
“But, few weeks ago, I was in Umuahia. I saw roads being dualized, I saw roads being tarred and I have encouraged him to continue to do the good things,” the former APGA guber candidate said.
