Let Internal Discord In Akwete Not Deter Development And Progress In Ukwa Land.
Wednesday (Nkwo) 07-01-2026.
By all historical calculations, the ancient town of Akwete-Ndoki in Ukwa-East Local Government Area of Abia State is a foundation of western civilization in Nigeria. The District Headquarters of what became Aba Division was, for many years domiciled in Akwete where the British District Officer, Mr Faulks who built Faulks Road at Aba, lived and operated before it was relocated, for administrative convenience, to Aba in 1903.
From every and any bit of reasoning and, even, assumptions, the Akwete Man is expected to be a reflection of modern civilization among the Igbo. It will, therefore, be strange and even astonishing to imagine that a group of leaders in such a supposedly civilized society could allow petty internal squabbles to truncate a Federal Government Project uncommonly attracted by an illustrious son of theirs, a first timer in the 10th House of Representatives, Hon Chris Nkwonta.
Through a video that appears to have gone viral, it is evident that, true to his promise, Hon Nkwonta has attracted a Comprehensive Skill Acquisition Centre for Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency from the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Centre, when it is completed and becomes operational, would certainly empower Ukwa sons, daughters and residents with productive skills capable of alleviating youth unemployment, its attendant poverty, create both direct and indirect jobs and eventually minimise youth restiveness and its consequent insecurity.
From the video, it is not likely that every hope about the actualization of the Project is lost. Most probably, Stakeholders on the affected land are demanding for proper negotiation and understanding. It could be translated to their asking for a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU.
Such demand may not be out of place. There should be a consensus on land, even when it is for development and sustainable progress.
It, therefore, becomes morally compelling that both the patriotic Federal House Member who has managed, despite all odds, to attract the Comprehensive Skill Acquisition Centre that will have a Modern Stadium for training of Footballers, Athletes, Fish Ponds, Piggery, Poultry, Wood Work, Maisonry, Electrical Knowledge, Plaster of Paris (PoP) and many other forms of Skills, and the affected Stakeholder could sit in a round table to discuss and agree on modalities for the take off of this very important project. This is the least that should be expected from a society as civilized as Akwete. The name, Akwete, should not, in any way, be associated with ‘killing of Projects for Development’.
It is important to emphasize that once it comes to development, every altruistic well-meaning indigene of any community where development is about being anchored upon should jettison envy, animosity and unbridled bitterness.
Equally important, Akwete People and (or) some of their immediate neighbours may have to strive hard to obliterate from their records the impression that they often willingly or otherwise constitute themselves as Agents of obstacles to Development and Progress.
Not up to three decades ago, a Thermal Power Project, TPP, had been earmarked to be constructed at Akwete or its environs but that very strategic project that could have given great boost to both economic and social development in Ukwa Land could not see the light of the day only because of internal disagreement amongst their Leaders.
To add salt to injury, even when it was later suggested that the Thermal Power Project should be relocated to Ohambele, the proposal was not accepted by the Federal Government because the Feasibility and Viability Study for the Project had unmistakably and conclusively pinned it to Ntugbu Akwete.
Akwete People should not project themselves as ‘irretrivable enemies of progress’, as standing against the establishment of this Comprehensive Skill Acquisition Centre will be one truncation too many coming from the oldest civilization in Old Aba Division.
Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, and Publisher of Equity Global Reporters Ltd.
