Members of Abia State traditional rulers council, led by Eze Joseph Nwabeke have advised Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to shelve the planned airport project in the State and use the proposed funds in fixing bad roads in the State.
The traditional rulers made the call at Government House Umuahia on Friday, during a meeting with the Governor on some important issues.
They observed that some roads in the State, especially the federal highways were in terrible condition and advised the Governor to suspend his plans to build an airport in the State but rather use the funds to fix the bad roads.
The royal fathers identified some roads like Enugu-Port express way, Aba-Ikot Ekpene and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene roads among some State roads as major challenge to the economic growth of the State, while mandating the Governor to channel funds meant for the proposed airport to maintain those roads.
They however, commanded the Governor for his development strides in the State.
Responding to the royal fathers’ counsel, Ikpeazu promised to table their suggestion to the State Executive Council (Exco) for consideration.
He described the traditional rulers as major partners in his administration’s goals while urging to ensure that their youths behaved well during the December 18 local government elections.
The Abia airport project was started by the past administration of Theodore Orji, now a Senator during his second term in office.
It would be recalled that Ikpeazu had in recent post published on his verified Twitter handle, complained bitterly against the devastating effects of federal roads to his State’s economy.
He has also given ultimatum to contractors handling some federal roads in the State to return to duty, failure which his government would move in to fix bad portions of such.