Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has been labelled as the worst enemy of the people, following his alleged frequent “serial desperation and fake concern about the growth and development of the state.”
The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside stated this in Port Harcourt while reacting to attempts by Rivers State government to frustrate the flagging off of Bodo-Bonny road project by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited.
Dr Peterside declared that Governor Wike should be ashamed of himself for continually being a clog in the wheel of Rivers progress.
He recalled that while Wike was minister during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, oil wells belonging to Rivers state were ceded to Bayelsa without him saying anything, just as he also frustrated all efforts by the then Chibuike Amaechi administration to get back over N100bn spent on federal roads.
According to him, “the same Wike now wants to frustrate the flagging off of Bodo-Bonny road project that will not only employ our youth but will open up Rivers state to a new frontier.”
The NIMASA DG stated the Rivers governor lacks the capacity to stop such a project or he should be prepared for the uprising of the people, whose lives will forever be changed by the road project.
“Let me assure Wike that the project will proceed as planned and completed. It will catalyse the development of Bonny and Ogoni land.
“The FG is committed to the project, and no amount of resistance will stop it. One hundred Wike cannot stop this project. Such hatred for Bonny and Ogoni people is being taken too far.
“I will repeat this; Wike lacks the capacity, ingenuity and resourcefulness to govern Rivers state. He has no single economic plan to make the state better. On the one hand, he cries for development, on another, he plays the ostrich. How can a sensible governor hang the fate of Ogoni and Bonny people in suspense,” he queried.
Dr Peterside assured the people Ogoni and Bonny axis that the project would go on as scheduled and that he would personally lead Rivers people to protest to Government House, Port Harcourt should Governor Wike do anything to hamper the road infrastructure.
It will be recalled the the Rivers Commissioner for Education,Tamuno-Sisi Gogo Jaja had announced that the the plan by the Rivers state government to use the Secondary school facility to flag off the road would not be allowed because no necessary permission was sought and granted by the state Ministry.
He said that the flag will disrupt academic activities of the school.
However sensing the negative political import of denying the federal access to flag off the road construction on the state government,Emma Okah,Commissioner for Information and Communications has explained inva radio news programme in Port Harcourt the state government is only saying that flag off during school hours would affect the academic activities of the school
.Meanwhile,the joy of Bonny people knows no bounds as expressed by Chief Jasper Jumbo, a traditional leader in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers, says the Federal Government’s effort to construct the 37km Bodo-Bonny road will boost the people’s economic activities.
Jumbo, who leads the Jumbo Major House, Grand Bonny; spoke with Journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday on the project which will be flagged off on Oct. 12.
The project is being done through the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and federal government partnership.
He said that the road which would link Bodo Community in Gokana and Grand Bonny in Bonny Local Government Councils, when completed would open up the areas for economic investment of sorts.
Jumbo, who is also the Leader of Association of Impacted Communities of the Bodo/Bonny Road Project, said it would meet the yearnings of the people.
According to him, the project will also impact on Ataba Community in the neighbouring Andoni Local Government Area.
“I’m particularly glad that the Federal Government and NLNG have finally decided to flag-off the construction of the Bodo/Bonny Road on Oct. 12, 2017.
“We are reliably informed that his Excellency, the Vice-President, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo, will visit Bonny to flag-off this development inducing project.
“Our happiness is based on the fact that the Federal Government is owing us in Bonny development considering the sacrifice that our community has made as contribution to our national wealth as well as hosting major oil companies from 1958 till date.
“Bonny also hosts the NLNG which is also a major treasure builder in Nigeria today.
“This project is worth commendation as it shows the Federal Government’s determination to attract development to our local communities,’’ he said.
Jumbo urged stakeholders in the area to cooperate with the Federal Government by ensuring peaceful atmosphere for contractors to carry out their work.
“On behalf of Grand Bonny community, I pledge cooperation to ensure peaceful atmosphere for the job to succeed,’’ he said.
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