Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (middle) acknowledging cheers from the crowd as he commissioned the Agba-Ndele Road and Bridge projects on Wednesday.
Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that his sterling performance in the delivery of legacy projects will give the All-Progressives Congress (APC) an advantage in the forthcoming General Elections, as candidates of the ruling party will be leaning on his track records when they go out on electioneering campaigns.
Governor Fubara stated this on Wednesday during the commissioning of the 14.5 kilometre Agba-Ndele Road and a 200meter-long bridge, a strategic link between communities in Emohua and Abua/Odual Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He stated that the projects, like several others commissioned last week, will serve as a strong campaign tool for the APC as it will make it easier for the party’s candidate to connect with voters at the grassroots.
“I believe that what we have done here today will make it easy for our candidate that will be representing us in the forthcoming elections. When he comes here to campaign, more especially in Emohua, he will tell them: my party did this and my party did that. So, it will be easy for us to win election here,” he said.
The Governor described the road and bridge as part of his administration’s determination to take development to the grassroots and ensure that governance translates into visible benefits for the people. According to him, government intervention on the road became necessary after noticing the deplorable state of the old Abua Road and the long hours commuters were losing on the route.
“Like I’ll always say, I’m not interested in just doing anything, I’m interested in doing something that can add value and change the life of our people. I can beat my chest this afternoon to say, the value of this project cannot be overrated. It is something that had come at the right time, when our people from Abua, our people from this other side of Ahaoda are having difficulties on the old Abua road. So, with this project, I think that part of the problems they are having there will be solved,” he said.
The Governor disclosed that the bridge was not initiated by his administration, nor by his immediate predecessor, but by an earlier government. He however noted that he was motivated to intervene because of his belief that governance is a relay race in which each administration should endeavour to continue from where their predecessor stopped.
He said his administration decided to complete the project because of its importance to the people of Agba-Ndele and surrounding communities.
“When you see something that will benefit the people, it doesn’t matter who started it. What is important is you complete it and put it to use. So, I want to thank everyone who has supported us in this project, most especially the people of Ndele who gave their total commitment to the contractor. Without you giving that support, this project wouldn’t have been completed and we won’t be here today”, he said.
Governor Fubara also charged the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Hon Chidi Lloyd and the Chairman of Abua/Odual Council, Hon Owolobi Michael Ofori to take direct responsibility for the protection of projects sited in their domains.
The Governor also called on the people of Agba-Ndele and adjoining communities to see the road and bridge as their own assets. He urged residents, youth groups, and traditional rulers to take ownership of the facility and ensure it serves the purpose for which it was built. According to him, government can build, but the people must protect.
Fubara warned strongly against vandalism and the destruction of public infrastructure, noting that such acts set communities back and amount to a waste of public resources.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, who gave details of the project, said the road measures 14.5 kilometres, with a 10.3-metre binder-course width, a 7.3-metre wearing-course width and three-metre shoulders, while the drainage section measures 0.6 metres by 0.6 metres. The bridge, Nwofor said, comprises a 239.4-metre structure with a 10.3-metre width, including 1.5-metre walkways on both sides, as well as a 1.2-kilometre access road.