The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has assured that his administration will not fail to deliver on the promises he made to the people of Rivers State, but continue to embark on projects that will have positive bearing on the lives of the people.
Governor Fubara who spoke during the commissioning of the reconstructed Okania -Ogbogoro-Mgbaraja road project at Ogbogoro Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Thursday, December 12, 2024, expressed delight over the timely completion of the road for use by the people to ease the pains previously encountered due to its deplorable state.
The governor identified the people as integral to governance and restated the commitment of his administration to deliver more positively impactful projects in the area, while thanking and seeking the continuous support of the people.
“What we are doing today is simple. It is promise made, promise fulfilled. I told you people that whatever we are going to start we are not going to leave it halfway. We have come here this afternoon to fulfill that promise.”
He said, “Government is about the people, it is about knowing, understanding and seeing what you can do to make life easy for your people. We understand the deplorable situation of this road, fortunately I have a few friends who live around here.”
“I am leaving here with so much joy that we have done something that have so much impact and value in the lives of our people. So I feel very fulfilled. As a government we will continue to do those things we know that will make life easy for you.”
Gov. Fubara thanked the communities specially for their support as it wouldn’t have been easy to complete the project without their support, saying, “It is not just us awarding the project, but the community also giving their support, so I want to thank you.”
The governor said a few issues mentioned by the community would be urgently attended to; according to him, “The issue of the school and the hospital, I feel very sad because I know that you mentioned it that day of flagging off this project which I immediately directed the Commissioner for Special Projects to act on and also that of Health. But whatever it is I assure you that we will look into that matter immediately.”
He noted that his government takes the interest of the people very important as there is no government without the people. “It is only the people that keeps the government. And so what we will continue to do is to make sure that the problem and the interest of our people are topmost in our decision.”
“The most important thing is that the road was bad, our government came, we saw and we conquered the situation. And we are here now celebrating the conquering of the bad road and that is the most important thing and that is the purpose of governance. Solving the problem of this people.”
He described the Special Guest, Dr Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba State as a friend of Rivers State having spent most of his working career in Rivers State and he is very familiar with the terrain including the road being commissioned.
In his remarks, the Special Guest of honour, Dr. Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba State thanked Governor Fubara for listening to the cry of the people and delivering the road project even in difficult times.
The Taraba State Governor also commended the people of Rivers State for their overwhelming support to the Governor which is visible in the gratitude shown by the people.
“When I was coming with the governor on a ride I saw the happiness and the joy from the voiceless people that were abandoned and neglected in this area coming out to welcome us.”
He said, “It wasn’t a hired crowd, those that couldn’t make it to this place in front of their homes were waving at us and I was telling my host governor this is all about governance. He listened to the people and solved the problem. So he shows that he is doing the right thing and I want to thank you my brother.”
The Special Guest of honour said the commissioned project will unlock great opportunities and boost economic activities in the area.
“I am commending you for your commitment and dedication to development of Rivers State. These roads are not just physical infrastructure, they represent a commitment to easing transportation like most of the leaders in the community were saying, boosting local commercial and improving quality of lives for the people of this great State.”
In describing the project, the Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-amadi thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for restoring the joy of the people with the reconstruction of the once deplorable road within the stipulated period of six months as promised when it was flagged-off on May 24, 2024.
He said the road was initially 5.0kilometers Okania-Ogbogoro road but in October the governor directed the extension to Mgbaraja thereby connecting the Apara kingdom with the Akpor Kingdom for the first time in history
Hon. Tasie-amadi noted that with the extension the road became 6.55kilometers with 10.3 meters wide which is 7.3 meters carriage way and 3 meters shoulder, adding that the commissioning marked another turning point in the lives of the people who were grateful to the Rivers State government for reconstructing the road.
On his part, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his uncommon interest in the local government area especially in reconstructing a road that was abandoned for several years and assured that the people will continue to support him as they won’t take his love and care for granted.
He appealed to the governor to further consider the part of the road called cornerstone to leads to Mgbuoba as well as the Community Secondary School and the Health Center that he initially promised the community when he flagged-off the road project.
