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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and other political parties should emulate the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in the delivery of democratic dividends to the
citizens.
He said the PDP has done well in the State by fulfilling the promises
it made to people of the State and they now know the difference.
Governor Wike stated this at the inauguration of the Okoro-Nu-Odo
Flyover, which was performed by the former Governor of Cross River
State, Donald Duke, on Monday.
The Rivers State Governor challenged the APC to come out bold to tell
Rivers people what they will do differently or had done already to
convince the people to believe in them.
Governor Wike pointed out that like every other project, the
Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover is among the best projects his administration has
delivered because Rivers people deserve the best always.
“I want to thank everybody for your support. Our party is not a party of
excuses. When we say something, we do it. Let other parties emulate us.
They should not be promising Nigerians and be giving excuses.
“We have promised and we have fulfilled. When they (APC) make promise
they should fulfil. PDP has done all its campaigns in this state. Let
the other parties come to tell us what they will do differently or had
done while in office. Time is already gone for them.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike said sceptics thought the three flyover
projects he started in 2019 will not be completed within record time of
16 months. But with Rebisi and Okoro-Nu-Odo flyovers completed and
commissioned, he said his administration has further demonstrated
commitment to enhance infrastructure in the State.
The governor warned community leaders who encourage street traders
around the area to desist from the act because trading activities will
not be tolerated around the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover.
“To the paramount rulers of Rumuokoro Community and Rumuodumaya
Community, tell your youths and CDCs, who are always collecting money
here, I will not tolerate anybody who will covert this flyover as
trading place.
“We cannot spend this money here and you turn this place into a market.
I will not accept that. We have built market and motor park for you. Go
and use them for your business activities.
“I have told the GOC of the 6 Division and the Garrison commander to
tell all their men to stop what they’re doing on this road. They collect
money and allow people to sell on the road. We won’t tolerate it again.
“Leave our road; this is not market, nobody should trade here. Allow the
people to enjoy the road.”
Governor Wike described former Governor of Cross River, Donald Duke, as
role model who inspired him to perform in office.
“I invited you because I know when you were governor, you performed very
well. I will not bring anybody who did not perform in office to come and
commission my projects.
“You’re our role model. We monitored you while you were in office and to
see how you took Cross River from nothing to somewhere.
“Today, people talk of Cross River and carnival, who’s the originator?
You’re the one who did everything to put Cross River on the world map.
People should not forget history. Today, you are here to see the little
thing we are doing, having emulated what you did.”
Inaugurating the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover Bridge, former Governor of Cross
River State, Donald Duke said Governor Wike is a trail blazer who has
demonstrated leadership and spent state resources prudently for the good
of Rivers people.
Duke urged the benefiting communities of the project to cherish and
protect the project as their own contribution to ensuring that the
resource used to build the bridge does not amount to waste.
“I want to congratulate you the people for being steadfast with your
son. You gave him support and he has delivered. Leadership is not about
winning election. Leadership is about taking people to a destination.
You may not always agree with Governor Wike at the onset. Later on
you’ll understand the wisdom of his stance. But you are never in doubt
where he stands on any issues and that’s leadership.
“Today, we are celebrating many things he has done; the development of a
community, the prosperity that will be brought into the community,
leaving the community better than he met it and of course, we are saying
thank you that we have a leader which is very rare to find in our
country, that is people who say what they mean and mean what they say.”
Providing the description of the project, the Rivers State Commissioner
of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover is one of
three flyover projects sited strategically to ease travel time for
commuters in the state.
“The Okoro-Nu-Odo flyover measures 642.75 m from ramp to ramp, 360m of
that being the suspended section. The transition area from the 4 lane
East-West Road to the 8 lanes of the bridge project measures 236m. 8
lanes because we have 4 lanes on the bridge and 4 lanes on the ground
for both service lanes on either side of the bridge, both of which
measure 1,760m long and 8.3m wide.
“You are seated in one of the transition zones. This flyover which is a
wonderful sight to behold at night is lit with 68 streetlight poles 26
of those are single arm while 42 are double arm giving you 110 nos of
250w luminares, not forgetting the 2 bulkhead luminares under the
bridge. All of these are powered by a dedicated substation complete with
a transformer and back up generator.”
The Commissioner said the Flyover will contribute towards ease of
travel along the East-West road, and traffic decongestion around the
area.
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze .C. J Okocha
(SAN) lauded Governor Wike for his developmental stride and warned the
people of the area against converting the flyover to a trading post.