Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has warned against hurting anyone as they struggle to take sides in the ongoing crisis in the state.
He stated that any outgoing local government chairman in the state who hurts any well-meaning Rivers person would not be forgiven.
While making reference to an event that happened on Tuesday, where miscreants attacked some persons who attended the inauguration of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road project on their way home, the governor said such a show of animosity was utterly needless.
Gov. Fubara gave the warning at the Egbeda community, the venue of the official flag-off of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project in Emohua Local Government Area, on Thursday.
He said, “Let me also say this here. When we left Aleto the other day, some people went there and attacked our people. There is no need for that.
“Nobody has the monopoly of violence. I should even be the one who comes out and shouts that I will do this and that. But I don’t need to do that because both sides belong to me. I have taken an oath to protect everyone.
“So, I am advising those people who call themselves local government chairmen: you have a few days in office. Please conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner,” he stressed, drawing their attention to the reality of life after office, which should help them become more circumspect.
He said, “Politics will come, politics will go, but we will still live our lives. Let nobody deceive you. If you deliberately hurt anybody by expressing your useless support, nobody will forgive you. You will pay for it.
“So, I’m begging everyone, please, conduct yourselves. As a matter of fact, I am the one who is most hit and abused as a governor who doesn’t know what to do with power. Is it not? Have I said anything?
“So, please, just endure until you finish, then you go your way. I don’t want trouble. I don’t want anything that will cause any problems in this state. I know what they want to do, but we will not give them the opportunity,” he said.
Gov. Fubara added: “We have made our promise to our leader, who happens to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that we will take the path of peace and that is the part we are taking.
“We will continue to take that path. Don’t mind what they say. Don’t mind what they do. Peace remains the path to take. While taking the path of that peace, it does not mean that we won’t defend ourselves, or let me describe it this way: we will not just be like a tree, seeing someone coming to cut it down, and won’t do anything. No, no, no. We need to also protect ourselves in a lawful manner.
Commenting on the project, Governor Fubara said that what is being done is to let the world know that his administration means well for Rivers State and is transparently accounting for every kobo that has been received.
He explained that the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project will be funded with savings from the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), adding that 50 per cent of the total cost of N80.8 billion has already been paid.
He said, “Why did we pay 50 per cent? We understand the fluctuation of prices as a result of exchange rate uncertainties, and we don’t want to find ourselves in a situation of too much variation. So, we sought Exco approval, and Exco approved that we should pay 50 per cent, and we have done that.
“And what is it that we are saying to the world? We are telling the people that we are transparent. We are a government that is ready to serve. We are a government that thinks about the people first.
“This road is a 33.5-kilometre road that has a bridge. It is a road that would connect Ikwerre, Emohua, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.
“When this road is completed, commercial activities will become very easy; there will be no more wasting of manhours on the road. And that shows that we are thinking about the people and also caring for their well-being.”
He urged residents of communities in the three LGAs to support the contractor to deliver the project within the stipulated 24 months.
The governor said the contractor had already pledged to ensure the project was completed and ready for inauguration before his third year in office.
Flagging off the project, Senator John Azuta Mbata, who represented Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, described the dual carriage road project as the type within the capacity of the Federal Government to award but now being done by Governor Fubara.
He said, “We are, indeed, extremely delighted to have a governor of your calibre. We salute your leadership on this occasion. We salute your humanity on this occasion. We salute your humility on this occasion.
“We salute your propensity and preference for peace and tranquillity. We are very delighted to be associated with your humble self, and our very presence here today, I believe, makes the point that we are your supporters.
“We don’t have to talk too much about it. Anybody who is a politician understands that my standing here means I am making a grand political statement,” he said.
Senator Mbata further said: “We are the face of the people that are behind, and we are many, millions of people, Rivers people, chiefs, traditional rulers, elder statesmen, and businessmen. We make up the silent majority that is behind, supporting the effort of the government to emancipate the people and bring development to Rivers State.
“I want to take the opportunity to call on all and sundry, all our people, wherever you are, to give your utmost support to the government because, for the very first time, the government has moved away from the time when the governor was seen as a tin god, a time when the governor demanded worship, so to speak, to a time when the governor has become a symbol, a rallying point for the people.
“A rallying point for accountability for the resources of our people. A rallying point for bringing all our people into the same boat. We are in an era where there is massive and extensive consultation going on. This is the order of the day when nobody’s view is thrown away.”
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Atemea Briggs said the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project is a state highway that will be connecting two separate Trunk-A federal roads.
He explained that it will be constructed as a dual carriageway with solar-powered street lights to provide the associated benefits of improving the fortunes of the people who will be using the road.
Also speaking, the general manager of the contracting firm handling the project, Craneburg Construction Company, Mr Elie Aden, said the road is a 33.5-kilometre dual carriageway, adding that it will have culverts, street lights, and a 99-metre-long bridge.
He said that about 7 km of work has already been accomplished and promised that they will complete the project within the agreed deadline.
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