Thousands of residents of Etche and
Ikwerre local government areas of Rivers State on Wednesday, September
28, 2016 celebrated the Igwuruta-Chokocho Federal Road reconstructed by
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to create access to the food basket
of the state.
Traditional rulers, elders, clerics,
women and youths from the two local government areas thronged the venue
of the commissioning at Chokocho in Etche Local Government Area, singing
and dancing over the construction of a road that re-connected
communities cut off from each other for 20 years.
Senate minority leader and former Akwa
Ibom State governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio commissioned the road in
an event that was a celebration of performance.
He said there is no reason why the
federal government should continue to budget for roads annually, when
such federal roads are never constructed.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor
noted that financial allocations for federal roads should be released to
state governments to handle the roads within their respective states.
“Where you have federal roads, the
federal government may never come. As such, states will have to take
their destinies in their own hands.
“Here is a governor who does not care if
a road belongs to the federal or state government, he goes ahead to
construct to the benefit of his people,” Akpabio said.
“Distribute money voted for federal
roads to states. There is no need to continue to vote money for federal
roads which are never constructed. These funds such be distributed to
the states to construct the roads.”
He commended Governor Wike for being a
transformational leader who governs his people with compassion and
judicious application of resources. He said Governor Wike deserves the
applause he is getting for the infrastructural renaissance taking place
in the state.
In his address, Rivers State Governor,
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said the successful reconstruction of the
Igwuruta-Chokocho Federal Road is in fulfilment of the pledge he made to
the people of Etche during the campaign.
The governor announced that his
administration will also construct the Chokocho-Igbo-Etche-Rumukrusi
road to link more Etche communities.
He said that his performance is a
fallout of the charge that he received Senator Godswill Akpabio who
pleaded with him never to make unfulfilled promises or disappoint his
supporters.
“I will never play politics with the
construction of roads in the state. I will never make promises that I
will not fulfil. My pledge is my bond. Whether or not there is economic
recession, we shall continue to work for the people of the state.
“Recall that the APC claimed that they
were the ones constructing this road. But the truth is known to the
people. We shall continue to construct more roads so that APC members
can ply on them to access venue for campaigns. We are committed to
serving all the people of the state, irrespective of their political
inclinations,” Governor Wike said.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, the
senior prefect of Country Grammar School, Ikwerre /Etche, John Oleh said
the completion of the road has led to the school regaining its lost
glory.
Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, who spoke
on behalf of the Etche people, said: “It is clear that Governor Wike has
endeared himself to the hearts of all well-meaning people of Etche. We
therefore owe the governor the maximum support in all his efforts to
move the state to greater heights.”
The Igwuruta-Chokocho Federal Road was
abandoned by the Federal Government for over 20 years , cutting off the
Etche people from the rest of Rivers State. The reconstruction of the
road was flagged odd on January, 2016 and completed within seven months.
Below are photos from the event. Click on any image to enlarge.
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