…You lied – Semenitari
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has charged the people of Etche Local Government Area not to be moved by the attempted daylight robbery of the ongoing construction of the Igwuruta-Chokocho-Okehi road by the APC and the NDDC.
Addressing the people of Etche on Thursday after inspecting the Igwuruta-Chokocho-Okehi, Wike said it was unfortunate that the APC and NDDC officials attempted to claim a road being constructed by the Rivers State Government after the immediate past administration in the state neglected for 8 years.
He said: “This road has nothing to do with the NDDC. I am happy that you did not believe their lies when they came for campaign. The Rivers State Government flagged off the construction of this road, awarded it to a reputable construction company and today it is almost finished.
“This road will be commissioned this month. We remain committed to the development of Etche. We have concluded the process for the commencement of Igbo-Etche road. Again, don’t be deceived by the fake promise of the APC on that road.”
He commended Etche people for staying away from the APC campaign rally in the area as a form of protest over their maltreatment by the ruling party.
“The APC leaders were able to campaign in Etche because my administration has opened up the area by constructing this road. While they governed the State for eight years, they left this road to become impassable “, he said.
Governor also inspected the ongoing construction of hostels, classrooms, laboratories and libraries at the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta.
The governor who was accompanied by the State Education Commissioner, Prof Kaniye Ebeku expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being done by the contractor.
At the Pleasure Park where the contractor is developing state-of-the-art recreational facilities, Wike urged the contractor to maintain the pace of work to meet up the scheduled time for completion.
The governor also inspected ongoing reconstruction of the Tam David West Boulevard (OBIRI-IKWERRE ROAD ).
Meanwhile, The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has debunked claims made by the Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, that the Commission was not involved in the recovery of dilapidated road infrastructure in Etche local government of the state.
She stressed that not only was Wike playing to the gallery, but was hiding the fact of his failure to tackle the bigger challenge of insecurity plaguing Rivers State.
Semenitari, who was reacting to Wike’s claims on Thursday that NDDC had claimed undertaking the construction of the Igwuruta-Chokocho-Okehia road, said the governor should emulate the Cross River State Governor who commended NDDC for its intervention on the Calabar-Itu Road.
“As an interventionist agency, NDDC stepped in to recover the roads between Igwuruta and Umuechem, as well internal roads in that community, and the Oil Mill-Igbo-Etche road, which is a critical connection between the bigger Port Harcourt market and the produce spots in Etche. NDDC, working under the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, stepped in to arrest the deterioration in road infrastructure in Etche as to eventually boost economic activity in the area and give its inhabitants a lease of life. Checks can be made on those roads as to the veracity of NDDC’s scope and quality of intervention.”
Semenitari further stated that NDDC would drive those projects to completion despite Wike’s attempts to possibly stall them.
“The facts which Mr. Wike sought to turn head-down, are clear. NDDC is working on the Igwuruta-Umuechem, Umuechem internal roads, and the Oil Mill-Igbo-Etche road. Wike is not happy that the Federal Government through the Commission is giving Etche people such critical intervention, and so, would prefer where the roads’ users continued in their suffering.”
She added: “We are miffed that Mr. Wike is yet to come to terms with the severe challenges ravaging the state. Surprisingly, rather than commit himself to true governance, Wike, like that proverbial Emperor who watched while his empire burnt, plays politics with the welfare of Rivers people. We thought that the degenerating insecurity in the state should cause Mr. Wike sleepless nights until there was solution. Unfortunately, Mr. Wike chooses to engage in speech-making as though there was a speech contest.
“Wike is not bothered that under his watch in little over a year, Rivers State has become a killing field. Wike is not bothered that there is capital flight and mass movement of people and that corporate entities are deserting Rivers State.
“While we do not intend to engage the governor in any speech contest, NDDC will not be deterred in pursuing the overall development of every segment of the Niger Delta region. That is the mission and mandate of the Commission.
