Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that his reason for inviting former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili to commission the dualized Omoku-Egbema Road is not political.

Fubara made this disclosure on Saturday, May 25, 2024 during the commissioning of the 21.6km Omoku-Egbema Road, described the road as an act of giving back to the people and therefore necessary that someone who understands this fact commissions it and speak to the people.

“I have a special reason for inviting our Daddy to commission this road. A lot of people might not understand. This is not politics. This is giving back to our people and I want somebody who understands the need of what we are doing to come and speak to our people.

“I want someone who has the direct interest of this LGA to come and speak to his people, so that we will understand that when we are in position, what is important is not self, what is important is the people.”

Inaugurating the project, the former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili extolled Governor Fubara’s achievements in the last one year, describing him as a Governor that talks less and does more.

Commending Fubara for living up to the tenets of his ‘People First’ mantra, Odili urged him to sleep with his two eyes closed having secured the support of ONELGA people, asserting that Fubara has taken full control of governance in Rivers State.

The ex-Governor thanked the incumbent for the project delivered in the area, urging him to remain focused on the people, giving succour to the less-privileged and hope to those who do not have anyone to help them go through life’s challenges.

“I can tell our people that the next election is very far, but what the Governor has done so far, is enough to secure the support of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area going forward.

“Thank you, Your Excellency, because the greatest assets of the State remain the people, not oil and gas. The people remain the greatest assets.

“So, once your focus remains with the people, especially the less-privileged, the poor, those who are struggling to feed everyday. Once they remain your focus, I want to agree with you that the sky would become the takeoff point of your administration,” the former Governor said.

Odili assured Governor Fubara of the support of the entire people of Rivers State, assuring that they are “rallying support for him because they trust him, believing in what he says and convinced that he means whatever he says”.

Recall that former Governor, Peter Odili who governed Rivers State from 1999-2007 and incumbent Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Ordu are indigenes of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Atemea Briggs said the road project indicated how Governor Fubara has consistently prioritised the needs of the people and solving critical problems.

“The 21.6Km dual carriageway project was awarded to Sectraco Nigeria Limited on April 28, 2023, by the previous administration at the sum of N7.597billion but without funding. It has 7.3meters carriageway on both sides and 8.2Km length of drains.

“Before the award of this contract, this road had been abandoned for many years. The current administration led by our hardworking Governor Siminalayi Fubara approached the project with great determination and passion, and as a result, mobilisation was paid to the contractor and the contractor started work in July, 2023.

“The scope of the project changed and due to the prevailing inflation rate, an additional N5.47billion was added to the contract, bringing the total value of the contract to N13.07billion.

“It is pleasing to announce that the full amount has been paid to the contractor, who has also completed the work within the timeframe,” he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, a former Rivers State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Shedrack Akalokwu, noted that though Governor Fubara is soft spoken, his leadership is action-packed, with successes that far outweigh public expectations of his administration.

“We are grateful that in the short period of less than one year in office, Your Excellency is here today to superintend over the commissioning of the Omoku-Egbema Dual Carriageway in our local government area.

“The Erema junction-Akabuka- Ogbogu-Obite-Ede-Okposi dual carriageway speedily being executed by the construction giant, Julius Berger, is very refreshing. The news of the award of 33.5Km Elele-Omudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku dual carriageway has been received with gladsome mind.

“That project is magic infrastructural access that would gladden the hearts of our people as there would be drastic reduction of time and distance from our local government to the state capital.

“All our people are in one accord in conveying our support, solidarity, gratitude and total loyalty to this Government of which we are an integral part,” he added.

On his part, the Area Manager of Setraco Nigeria Limited, Michael Issa, explained that the contract was awarded and first payment made to the company in July, 2023, adding that they mobilized to site immediately, delivering the project alongside the additional scope of work, on schedule.

He assured that, like other road projects delivered in good quality and still enduring, this project has been delivered in best quality, stressing that the firm feels delighted to be part of the success story of Governor Fubara, who, according to him, “is establishing a footprint in the development trajectory in the state”.