A chief, who hails from the area, informed Governor Otti that the old, dilapidated bridge was originally constructed by the British colonial government to connect the old Bende to the state capital.

Apparently angry with the rot and decay he met in Abia when he assumed office as the governor in 2023, Mr Otti vowed that “the deceit and false political promises of yesteryears shall have no place in Abam or anywhere in the state ever again”.