Aba 1st rainfall causes havoc

Eniola Olayemi

First rainfall of 2019 in Abia State has left many residents of Aba, the commercial nerve center of the state to groan in pains following the damage it had on the property.

While many residents of the business-minded city had gone out to their respective offices and business centers without anticipating any rain with the city having 20 percent chance of rainfall according to an early morning weather forecast, they were shocked when the rain unannounced hit the streets of the city.

The city which had most of its drainage blocked was flooded within few minutes of the rain, causing gridlock on major streets and roads as vehicle owners and commuters struggle for space on the road.

Some of the residents whose houses were submerged as a result of the rain have sent out appeal to the state Governor; Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu following the damage they suffered in the rainfall that lasted for about two hours.

They feared that if there would be any rain this month, the situation could become terrible.

Our reporter who visited several places within the metropolis and its environs report that a lot of residents suffered so much damage and has worsened the deplorable nature of roads leading to their residents.

Residents living in some of the areas where reconstruction of road projects have been abandoned by the respective contractors want government to order the contractors back to site and feared that if the works linger till the rainy season sets, it could force them out of their residential quarters.

Ndiegoro, Uratta, the Over-Rail, Port Harcourt road and among other places suffered the heaviest casualty within the axis of the commercial city that was hit by the rain.

Some of the residents who spoke to our reporter said that the last two months of 2018 were more of a miracle to them as they did their businesses smoothly with the dry season helping to dry up their roads.

Speaking to our reporter, Mr. Maxwell Mbagwu, a landlord at Obohia Road, off Nkwo-Ngwa Market in Ndiegoro axis of Aba South Local Government Area of the state said he is afraid because he knows that him and his tenants are about to see the painful part of 2019 faster than expected.

He said: “To be honest with you, I don’t hate rain. But I now fear rainy season because of where I found myself. The weather is too hot, yet people like me are afraid of seeing rain. Do you think that’s normal?

“You came here by yourself and you can see why we are afraid. We are about to begin a new phase of our suffering for this year so so early. I was thinking that it will be by February, but it took us all by surprise yesterday.

“I pity my tenants and myself as well. They’ll pay rents in pains and I will be collecting with remorse. Most of them who have cars do park along the good portions of the road or even as far as other adjoining street.

“For me I can’t drive again because it’s more cost effective to enter Keke than to destroy your car. The truth and nothing but the truth is that Abia State Government has abandoned us. We plead that they remember that we are humans and still alive.”

A resident of Igbere Road off Ohazu Road, within the same Ndiegoro axis who simply gave her name as Mrs. Celine pleaded with the governor Ikpeazu to instruct the contractors handling the Igbere road to come back to site.

Celine said that the abandoned drainage from Ngwa Road to Igbere Road, channeled all storm water from yesterday’s rain into their residents thereby making them homeless.

“Our homes were like river yesterday. Those who went out couldn’t return while those of us at home had to endure the whole problem. We don’t know if they have stopped the construction, but the drainage stopped that place you’re seeing there.

“We are suffering and we plead with the governor to save us before we perish. The smell of the storm water is what no one should wish his enemy to perceive. We are pleading for mercy and help please.

“For some years now, our children contract different disease and we waste money that could have been used for other things on hospital bills. We the adults get injured on daily basis. We only enter our homes by climbing blocks and planks placed on the roads which often lead to injury.

“Just few days to the New year, we are back to it again. The contractors have all disappeared. We are now leaving like pigs in the midst of debris and mosquitoes. Aside the state of our finance, we cannot be in this kind of place, “she lamented.

Kelechi Onuigbo, a commercial motorcyclist in Amaukwu Road along Uratta axis of Aba told New Telegraph that he fears a drop of rain more than the sound of a gun as the rain is more of an enemy to his welfare than any other thing.

“I’m nothing before God to tell Him what to do. But if I have power to suggest to the Almighty God, I’ll plead that He restricts rain from touching Uratta Road and its environs because what ought to be a blessing is now a curse to us here. Our government is wicked and most of our political office holders are inhuman.

“They often tell us how the rain disturbed construction works, but what did they do with the space provided by the dry season? One of them brought people from Abuja to Uratta Road with the claim that they are going to flag of the construction of the road just few days after their visit, but as you can see with your eyes, nothing is happening and our sufferings is about to get worst,” he said.

Also at the Over-Rail axis of the commercial city, the story is the same as most residents see the coming back of the rain as more of the biblical returning to Egypt.

The panic of the looming dangers the rain is coming with was residents of Osusu Road, Omuma Road and Cemetery Road all in Over-Rail lamented about the bad state of their roads and called on the state government to do the needful.

The worst hit in the Over-Rail axis is the Osusu Road where Abia State Government demolished buildings, created new waterways for the construction of drainage, but has since several months back left the road untouched.