Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the reason former minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi and Mr. Tonye Cole plot to plunder the State’s resources again will never materialise.
Governor Wike, who spoke at the inauguration of the Rukpakwulusi/Eliogbolo internal roads on Saturday, said Amaechi’s criticism of the on going projects inauguration and flag off in Rivers State smacks of enviousness and malice.
He noted that Amaechi having failed to account for the $308 million proceeds from the sales of the State power plants by his administration, lacks the moral rectitude to speak on the affairs of Rivers State.
“Why should we not celebrate, when you sold our gas turbine at the cost of $308 Million. Convert it today at even N500, how much will it be? What can you show for the money, certainly nothing.”
The governor urged Rivers people to be wary of the antics of the former minister who desperately wants Mr. Cole, his business partner to become governor so that they can continue to loot the resources of Rivers State.
“All the gas turbines that Dr. Peter Odili bought, where are they today? So you think Rivers people are foolish to see that you are bringing the person, your business partner to come and be governor so that you will continue to loot where you stopped. It will never happen.”
He advised the former minister to perish the thought that there will be a re-enactment of the 2019 foiled attempt to use the Army to rig general election in the State in 2023.
Governor Wike recalled that on May 27, 2015, while he was still governor-elect, Amaechi who was then the State governor had bragged at Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, that the incoming government will not have money to pay salaries and execute projects.
“So, today by the grace of God, we are not only paying salaries, we are not only paying pensioners, we are not only paying gratuities that he did not pay, we have gone beyond that to carry out projects which he failed to carry out. And so, we should celebrate it, let him know that nobody is God.”
The Rivers State governor said it is disheartening that while as a federal minister, Amaechi never attracted any project to the State. According to him, Amaechi’s supporters have began to desert him because he lacks integrity.
“I’m not the one who say people should leave your party. We have used projects to demystify you and the Federal government now know that you are a bloody liar. They appointed you as a minister, what did you bring to this State? Even in your community Ubima, you said you are going to bring University of Transportation, is it there? You said you are going to give us narrow guage rail line, have you given us?”
He noted that while as governor, Amaechi had promised to construct the Saapkenwa-Bori road, Trans-Kalabari road, Andoni-Opobo Unity, Chokocho-Igbodo road to mention but a few, but failed to deliver these projects.
“He promised Ogoni people that he is going to do Saapkenwa-Bori road, he did not do it. To the glory of God today, we have done it from Saapkenwa to Kono, dualised with streetlights, the road is not less than 25 kilometres.
“Why will we not celebrate? You promised the Kalabari people, you are going to do Trans-Kalabari road, did you do it.? By the grace of God, this December, we are going to commission the first phase of Trans-Kalabari road.
“Eight years in office, you said you are going to complete Andoni-Opobo Unity road. Did you do it? You run away with the money. By the grace of God today, we have completed the Opobo section and we are still working on the Andoni section.”
The governor reiterated that the whole essence of governance is the advancement of the welfare of the people. According to him, his administration is elated that the people of the two communities are happy with the construction of their internal roads.
Giving the project description, the Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo, explained that the project started slightly over 12 months ago and has been completed to scope.
“This project consists 16 roads, or streets, some of them are long streets, some of them are short streets and all of these roads and streets are in Rukpakwulusi/Eliogbolo communities. The total length of the road is 6 kilometres and the average width of the drain is 6 meters.”
Former president, Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze Okocha, SAN, who hails from the area commended governor Wike for the project.
“When I came to live in the village, it was a real village. All this place was forest and farmland, but today it is a new layout. We thank the government of Rivers state for helping us recover some of our land that had been acquired by the federal government, in fact, the colonial government.”
Okocha said the land where both the Bori camp (army barracks) and the Air Force base are located in Port Harcourt belong to his people. According to him, “We expect them to pay us fair and adequate compensation.”
Kelvin Ebiri
Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State governor.
November 26, 2022.
