Wike boasts of silencing critics over accusations of non-performance

By Ihesiulo Grace

8 January 2021

News

By Amaka Agbu

Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State has declared that the commissioning of completed projects in the state by his administration has silenced critics and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over accusation of non-performance.

The governor made the assertion at the inauguration of the Abonnema Ring Road in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on Thursday.

The governor said the APC governors were hiding under the guise of speaking for local contracting firms, rather than encouraging their governors to roll out projects for inauguration as done by PDP governors.

He described the allegation that his administration has refused to empower local contracting firms to handle projects as sheer falsehood.

Gov. Wike said some of the projects that were inaugurated within the week like the Semi-Nonwa -Kira Road were handled by an indigenous construction firm, Lubrik Construction Company, while the Abonnema Ring Road was done by O.K. Isokariari Construction Company.

According to him, his administration was mindful of empowering the people of the state, encouraging and trusting them to handle critical projects because he believes in their capacity.

“Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said I should mention those whom, locally we have empowered. O.K. Isokariari Company is a Rivers company. They did Phase One of Okochiri Road.

They have also done this Abonnema Ring Road. “Lubrik Construction Company Limited is a local company too.

As we go on, we will begin to mention them. Our own is not to develop others without developing our own people. I’m happy with the contractor.

We will continue to engage you so that you’ll employ Rivers sons and daughters. “You see how we have silenced them in the state.

We commissioned projects until the 24th of December 2020. We have started this year since 4th January 2021. Let them tell their people to roll out their projects and call people,” he said.

The governor said the PDP was different from APC because it always keeps its promises to the people by delivering good governance and quality projects that satisfy the yearnings of the people.

“For us, as a party and government, whatever promises we make, we must fulfil them. We are not a party that promises and fails or gives excuses.

“We are a party that when we make a promise, we must fulfil the promise because we owe it to the people.

That is why I have told our people, we have no choice; that the only hope this country has today is the Peoples Democratic Party,” the governor stated.

Gov. Wike said it was not the length of the ring road that matters, but its importance to the people. He stated that the ring road would serve as an alternative route in and out of Abonnema and Obonoma Towns.

He announced that the adjoining mangrove would be dredged to provide land to the people of Abonnema and Obonoma that they could use for future development.

Commissioning the project, the former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, said by executing projects in the hinterland land other than the city, the Wike administration has demonstrated equity and justice to Rivers people.

He noted that the lessons to be learnt from the series of projects being inaugurated in the state by governors and other political leaders should be for them to get inspired and replicate such developments in their various states and at the national level.

“I believe it when I said that we should not be ashamed to say we are learning from our colleague on what to do.

If we need help, we must seek help from whoever we can get help from and that’s the only way we can develop,” he said.

Sen. Ekweremadu also enjoined the Federal Government to explore the possibility of getting assistance from foreign countries that have the required capacity in order to protect the sovereignty of the country, its people and its democracy.

“Today, we are challenged as a country in terms of security. Out of sheer national pride, we have not been able to accept help and assistance from those who know better, who can help us to secure this country.

“This is an opportunity for me to call on our leaders, just like I am saying that other states should learn from Rivers State.

We in Nigeria must also accept assistance from other countries in order to secure our borders, secure our democracy, secure our place and secure the citizens of this country.

That is the only way to go. We must learn from those who have done better than us,” he added.