…Accuses the governor of dubious intention, seeking crisis
By Nwaorgu Faustinus
As the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike undertakes what he calls road project flag-off in Rivers State, the State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief [Dr.] Davies Ibiamu Ikanya has advised the governor not to create crisis in the State by embarking on flag-off for roads awarded by the federal government through the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] for which work is presently ongoing.
“We in APC are surprised that Gov. Wike suddenly woke up to embark on road project flag-off for roads which were awarded by the NDDC that are already under construction.
“Most worrisome is his directive to the Etche LG Council to mobilize hoodlums to disrupt and chase away construction workers from work sites especially at the Chokocho-Igbo Etche Road where NDDC contractors have been working on since August,” Chief Ikanya revealed.
“What sense does it make for a governor who should be happy and welcoming to the intervention by the federal government through NDDC to rather turn around to reject such help? If he personally does not need the intervention by the federal government, the people of Etche desperately need help to save them from the economic and social burden that bad roads have placed on them.
“In these parlous and dire financial times, governors elsewhere are praying for the kind of federal government intervention which NDDC is making in states of the Niger Delta since President Muahmmadu Buhari assumed office but it boggles the mind that here in Rivers State, the governor has started an unnecessary rivalry and acrimony because of politics and greed.
“Assuming that Gov. Wike is able to borrow more money from banks, shouldn’t he deploy such money to several bad roads begging for attention across Rivers State? Why deliberately insist on flagging off work for roads for which work is already ongoing by NDDC contractors,” Chief Ikanya queried.
Providing insight to what might be the governor’s motives, Chief Ikanya blamed it on Gov. Wike’s penchant for cornering and pocketing the commonwealth of Rivers people under the guise of carrying out one phantom project or another.
“There can be no other motive behind Gov. Wike’s behaviour other than pecuniary interests. Since he operates a budget no one has seen, these phantom projects have become the major means through which the governor siphons money that belong to the people into his pocket through his front companies and cronies. Money for most of the projects he is busy claiming to flag off will disappear into his bottomless pocket while the roads will be abandoned after the forthcoming rerun elections.
“This must be the most wicked act any governor who swore to lead his people would embark on. Must the governor jettison the wellbeing of Rivers people for his own selfish interest at all cost?
“The vast territory of Etche has numerous roads that, if constructed, will open up the area which is a major food basket in Rivers State. Why must the governor insist on flagging off work on the Chokocho-Igbo Etche Road that NDDC contractors were deployed and have been working on since August?
“The APC is also aware that with the rerun of December 10 around the corner, Gov. Wike rather than campaign and speak honestly with Rivers people decided to fool them with frivolous flag-off of road projects that will soon be abandoned or stalled just like the Sakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road which he hurriedly flagged-off before the March 19 rerun election but presently stalled to the frustration of the contractor and the people of Ogoni,” Chief Ikanya stated.
