Rivers State Nyesom Wike on Saturday said discussions have been concluded on the commencement of construction work on the Trans-Kalabari Road, which will ease transportation difficulties experienced by the people of Kalabari ethnic nationality.
The governor explained that he is deliberately embarking on critical projects that address the direct needs of Rivers people, and he is determined to make the people happier than he met them on the assumption of office.
Governor Wike gave the explanation at the reception organised for the conferment of special chieftaincy title, Eze Gbuwara Uzor 1 of Ikwerre on Sir Celestine Omehia, former Governor of Rivers State, at Isiopko Town in Ikwerre Local Government Area on Saturday.
He said most Kalabari people had castigated his administration out of impatience, but they can see clearly that the Trans-Kalabari Road project has always been on the list of projects for construction before the end of his tenure.
“I and the Deputy Governor, together with the Chairman of the Rivers State Elders Council, have agreed on how the Trans-kalabari road will follow.
“Those who said we don’t want to do anything in the Kalabari area, today they are sending me text messages. They are thanking me and I said to them don’t thank me because their thanking me is temporary. They are not always stable.”
The governor said with several projects inaugurated in the various local government of the state, most critics who accused him of being sectional with his development programme are now ashamed and silenced.
“So many people have said that I am discriminating in terms of projects. Now, when they saw us go to the various Local Governments to commission projects, they don’t say anything again. By February 10th, 2021, we will start another round of project inauguration.
“When we were doing Sakpeenwa -Bori (Ogoni) Road, some politicians in our party were carrying propaganda. They were saying that we are not going to finish that road.
“But, they now have one of the best roads in the state. Some of them were even ashamed to watch it on television. We have also agreed that from Sakpeenwa to Bori, we are awarding fresh contract to take it to Kono town. Which government has done that to anybody or town?
“I have also told Isiopko people, don’t be impatient, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC is already taking measurement and we will link you up to Isiodu town.
“To Aluu people, I have assured that we are linking them to Omagwa Town. We are almost ready to award the contract. When we make promise, we must fulfil those promises.
“No one project awarded by us will be left abandoned. I won’t leave any uncompleted project for my successor. I will leave office as a proud Ikwerre son who will feel satisfied that I made the people happy when I was governor.
Governor Wike commended the people of Ikwerre local government for the courage to honour their son in recognition of his success in public office that has also impacted on them positively.
“I am a witness to this event. And what you’ve done today shows that you know what is good. It shows that when somebody has done well, you can honour him when he’s alive. When you honour a man when he’s late, he doesn’t know if you’ve honoured him at all.
“I thank you for what you have done to Sir Celestine Omehia by honouring him with the chieftaincy title as the title Eze Gbuwara Uzor 1 of Ikwerre .
“Let me thank the Ikwerre Local Government Traditional Rulers Council for what they have done today to one of the illustrious sons of the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality.”
