Dr. Darlington Orji, Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, revealed late Friday that the governor has continued and completed several key projects abandoned by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Orji made the revelation while responding to accusations by the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Tony Okocha, that Fubara’s administration lacked vision and was not consolidating on Wike’s achievements.
According to the special adviser, far from being visionless, Fubara has prioritised completing critical infrastructure projects initiated but left unfinished by the previous administration.
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“Government is a continuity and the governor has continued with the projects that were not completed by his predecessor,” Orji stated.
He listed some of the abandoned Wike projects that have now been completed by Fubara to include the 19.1 kilometer Oyigbo-Okoloma (Afam) road in Oyigbo LGA, the 8.1 kilometer Abua-Omoku-Iyak-Ighom-Elok road in Abua-Odual LGA, and the Egbeda Internal road in Emohua LGA.
The Commissioner for Information, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, corroborated Orji’s claims, providing more details on Wike’s uncompleted projects that Fubara has now delivered.
These include the Government Comprehensive Secondary Schools in Borikiri, Eneka, Emohua and Okehi; the 10.3 kilometer Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East/West link road; the University of Port Harcourt Convocation Auditorium; the Mgbuodohia internal roads in Obio Akpor; and the Gbene-nu/Ohoro road in Tai LGA.
Johnson added that Fubara had also completed the Dental Maxillofacial, Ear, Nose, Throat & Ophthalmology Hospital at Garrison junction, as well as the Kelsey Harrison Hospital renovation in Mile 2, Diobu.
Both aides were adamant that contrary to Okocha’s claims, Fubara was firmly focused on development and delivering quality projects and services to Rivers people.
They insisted that completing the abandoned projects of his predecessor, in addition to initiating new ones like the Port Harcourt Ring Road, was evidence of the governor’s vision and commitment.
Orji said, “The governor has ensured that construction of roads and bridges are ongoing in Alesha road in Eleme.
“When you go to Bori internal roads, you will see the signature of the governor which shows that he is focused and not ready to be distracted.
“I thank God that Okocha agreed that the governor is carrying out the ring road project; the ring road is one of the signature project of the governor.
“Governor Fubara is focused and he believes in the feelings of the people, that is why he directed that the Local Government workers should be promoted and paid the 30 percent minimum wage.
“The governor is generally accepted by the people because he is doing what the people want.
“We can see the rehabilitation of the Psychiatric Hospital ordered by the governor, and the reopening of the employment project at the Ignatius Aguru University and other programmes done by his administration,” Orji said.
According to him, Okocha may have deliberately decided not to see or appreciate the effort of the governor.
He added, “Let it be on record that the governor is not funding the thanksgiving that Okocha described as a jamboree, rather people are happy, thanking God for the victory at the courts; it is worth thanking God for.
“This is the reason the opposition parties have continued to align themselves with the governor for his good works.
“Yes, criticism is part of governance, but it should be in good faith. What we are seeing is criticism meant to undermine all the good development that the governor has brought to the people,” Orji added.
On his part, the information commissioner said Okocha had lost touch with happenings in the state. “We are rebuilding the entire state and the revival fire is sweeping through the entire 23 LGAs, not by making noise.”
The commissioner also identified some of the projects initiated by Fubara’s administration outside those started by Wike to include the 50.15km Port Harcourt Dual carriage Ring Road, the Elelenwo Internal Roads in Obio Akpor LGA, ongoing Omuakali-Eberi Road, Omuma LGA, ongoing 10 kilometer Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo road (old Port Harcourt-Bori Road) in Eleme LGA and ongoing Igbu-Ehuda Internal Roads in Ahoada-East.
“Fubara also initiated the ongoing Bori City Internal Roads in Khana Local Government, ongoing Emohua-Ogbakiri Road in Emohua LGA and the ongoing 6.5 kilometers Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery link road with 200 meters bridge,” Johnson added.