…High expectations on Alesa new road
After the shakeup in Rivers State during the stalled impeachment saga and political crisis, most persons expected the next sword fight between Gov Sim Fubara and his ‘Oga”, Nyesom Wike.
Instead, an anticlimax came in the form of rapprochement and what persons have dubbed one-sided ceasefire. Whereas Fubara has continued to tone down and reassure all parties, the other party is always being quoted with combatant statements.
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Many felt Fubara was being timid or cowardly, but no tested bureaucrat is a pushover, some say. Now, Fubara seems to bring out some tentacles like a snail, to show that he is not what people think he is.
He may have decided that since the treasury is in his control, and power is in his hand, he could target the hearts the Rivers people and leave out street fights.
In this case, he could give the people what many say have eluded them for years: cost-effective projects and genuine acts of good governance that is responsive to the yearnings of the people.
He has thus placed what looks like a vow, not just a statement, but saying ‘no situation will deter the agenda.’
Gov Fubara specifically reiterated commitment to upholding the standard of infrastructural development inherited from the immediate past administration particularly because it will foster economic growth.
Speaking when he embarked on an inspection visit to assess the extent of work done at the Woji-Aleto-Refinery Road project, Gov Fubara said Rivers State would continue to witness delivery of more projects.
He said: “I can assure you and the world that no matter what the situation is, we are not going to lower the standard that we have come to meet.”
Fubara explained that the Woji-Aleto-Refinery Road is one of the projects inherited from the immediate past administration that he considered important to create an alternative route while awaiting the reconstruction of the East-West Road.
The road sounds ordinary but it has the dual potential of saving travellers on East-West Road to the oil/gas hub of Onne through Alesa and also opens up large swath of farm zone. Many already hint of a world class housing estate that may soon spring up at Alesa that may be served by the new road.
The governor said the state government had met its commitment to the contracting firm, Raffoul Construction Company, and expects them to speed up work for early completion.
“We had an understanding with the contractor and we did our own part of the commitment. So we are here to see what they are doing because we have given them a time line when the project should be completed.
“This is a follow up of one of the commitments we made to Mr President when we visited him about two months ago to thank him for all the good things he’s doing for us; appointment of our illustrious sons into very important positions.
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“On that visit we promised him that in a way to help the Federal Government, we will create an alternative route to decongest the East West Road.”
The governor said though they inherited the road but promised that in line with the commitment of their mantra of consolidation and continuity, that the administration must see that the road is completed.
The governor, who was accompanied on the project inspection by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Woke, expressed satisfaction on the state of work done and charged the contractors handling the project to ensure speedy delivery.
