The Executive Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, has challenged his predecessor and incumbent House member representing Ivo Congruency at Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu to show Ivo people his projects when he was Chairman of Ivo local government area and now a member representing Ivo Constituency.
Speaking with journaliststs in his residence at Ishiagu Ivo Local Government Area over who built Etan bridge at Akaeze between him and the former Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Aja said that Etan bridge was initiated by previous administrations but not when Onyebuchi Ogbadu was the chairman noting that his administration executed substantial works towards its completion after receiving a directive from the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who was then Governor of Ebonyi State.
Aja asked why should he claimed he built Etan bridge when he did not put any money in the project when he was the chairman asking him why didn't him commissioned the Etan bridge if it was built by him.
Aja further stated that his two years reign as the council chairman was marked with crisis adding that his house, filling station and his cars were burnt down by his people who said that he was the one causing problems in their community.
The chairman further asked the former chairman to show to Ivo people the projects he did when he was the chairman and now he is the member representing Ivo Constituency in Ebonyi House of Assembly noting that Ogbadu has not done any project both as former chairman and now House of Assembly member.
"I was the one that made it possible for him to win the House of Assembly seat, he could not even win his ward and booth but I made sure my people voted for him to enable him, I regretted helping him to win in 2023 but when he wanted to contest for 2bd term I personally thwarted it" Aja narrated.
"Without me he wouldn't have gone to state House of Assembly and now he wanted to return back I personally make sure the party rejected him. Let him show Ivo people the projects he intiated and completed when he was the chairman and now he is the House of Assembly member. He is a failure" Aja noted.
On Etan bridge the chairman said he would not take credit for work done by his predecessors, stressing that he had documentary and photographic evidence showing the various stages of the bridge project and the interventions made by his administration.
According to him, the project was initially started by a former council chairman, whom he identified as Osyude, who laid the foundation and constructed the pillars, while another predecessor, Ogbadu, subsequently handled the beams.
Ajah said his administration later intervened in the project after Umahi directed him to complete the bridge.
“I don't say that I started from the foundation. I don't say so. When the governor said it started from my predecessors to me, I said the floor of the bridge, I did it. The wing, I did it. The fillings, I did it,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that the first allocation he released for the project after assuming office was N300 million, adding that the funds were deployed towards the execution of his administration's component of the work.
“I can show you the evidence. The first money I raised for that bridge was N300 million. That is the first money I raised to start that bridge,” Ajah said.
He explained that his administration undertook the filling works, flooring, wings and access road leading to the bridge, stressing that the interventions were necessary to make the project functional.
Ajah further said he had personally inspected and participated in the execution of some of the works, alongside officials of the local government, and that photographic evidence was available to substantiate his claims.
He therefore questioned the rationale behind attributing the entire project to one administration when different council administrations had contributed to its development.
“I don't want to drag issue with anybody. But the evidence is there,” he said.
The chairman argued that where a public project is completed by an administration, it should be properly commissioned to establish the contribution of that administration.
“If you do the project, you have to commission it. What are you waiting to commission the bridge you have done?” he asked.
Ajah maintained that he had personally commissioned several projects executed by his administration, including markets, roads, court facilities and other public infrastructure, saying such commissioning provided clarity on ownership and delivery.
He said his administration had also undertaken the construction and rehabilitation of several public facilities, including a magistrate court, high court facilities, a police station, an FOB camp and other infrastructure within the council area.
Beyond infrastructure, the chairman said his administration had focused on restoring peace and security in Ivo, describing peace and unity as among his most significant achievements.
“My greatest achievement is the peace that I brought in; unity, peace and security,” Ajah said.
He also disclosed that his administration had empowered more than 30 persons with N500,000 each and supported about 200 students in tertiary institutions through educational interventions.
Ajah said several beneficiaries of the educational programme had graduated, adding that investments in human capital remained one of the most sustainable ways of developing the community.
“Human capital investment is the best investment you can do because those people one day will come and empower you. You are even empowering the third generation who are coming,” he said.
He said he was satisfied with his tenure and believed he would leave office without any unfinished project or unresolved obligation that could undermine the development of the council.
Ajah also called on political leaders and public officials to allow their records of service to speak for them rather than engage in unnecessary disputes over project ownership.
Recent reports have similarly quoted Ajah as listing infrastructure, education, security, empowerment and community reconciliation among the priorities of his administration in Ivo.
He said, “I don't want to drag issue with anybody. I did my job on my own. I don't do it for anybody to come and praise me.”
Recall that Ajah's comments come amid heightened political activities in Ebonyi State ahead of the August 22, 2026 local government elections and the 2027 general elections.
