Governor Nyesom Wike has restated that his track records of achievement at the helm of affairs in the oil-producing have silenced his critics and detractors who are predominantly in the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
Wike noted that his non-stop inauguration of completed projects in the state has shown his commitment to good governance which the residents of his state will greatly benefit from.
The governor said this during the inauguration of the Abonnema Ring Road in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state.
The road is one of the projects which is the Rivers State government has been inaugurating since the 4th of January.
He said instead of the opposition to address how they can encourage their APC governors to roll out projects for inauguration as done by PDP governors, they are hiding under the guise of speaking for local contracting firms.
He described the allegation that his administration has refused to empower local contracting firms to handle project construction as sheer falsehood.
Governor Wike said some of the projects that have been inaugurated this week like the Semi-Nonwa -Kira Road was handled by Rivers construction firm, Lubrik Construction company, while the Abonnema Ring road was done by OK Isokariari Construction Company.
He said his administration was mindful of empowering Rivers people, encouraging and trusting them to handle some 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. OK Isokariari Company is a Rivers Company. They did Phase One of Okochiri Road. They have also done this Abonnema Ring Road.
“Lubrik Construction Company Ltd 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.”
The governor said the PDP is different from APC because it always keeps its promises to the people, deliver 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 fail 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 (PDP).”
Governor Wike said it is not the length of the ring road that matters but it’s importance to the people. He stated that the ring road now serves as an alternative route in and out of Abonnema and Obonoma towns.
He announced that the adjoining mangrove will be dredged to provide land to the people of Abonnema and Obonoma that they can use for future development.
“Having done this, the next thing for us to do is sand-filling so that they can have land to build on. I know how important land is to them.
“I, therefore, direct the Special Adviser on Special Projects to meet with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to make sure we award a contract of sand-filling of Abonnema-Obonoma areas.”
