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Saturday, 9 June 2018

The Wonderful Woji-Elelenwo Inter-Change: Another Golden DeliveryBy Simeon Nwakaudu For two years running, the Nigerian Guild of Editors held their Annual General Conference in Rivers State.  They were opportuned to see the different stages of the Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge first hand.

The Wonderful Woji-Elelenwo Inter-Change: Another Golden Delivery

 By Simeon Nwakaudu 

 For two years running, the Nigerian Guild of Editors held their Annual General Conference in Rivers State.  They were opportuned to see the different stages of the Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge first hand.






























The Guild of Editors  were opportuned to witness significantly, the progression  of this major Inter-Change, abandoned at less 20 percent completion by the immediate past failed Amaechi administration . 
On July 30, 2016, Governor Wike led the Guild of Editors to inspect work on the Woji-Elelenwo Bridge. At this time, though the contractor had worked under the supervision of Governor Wike for over 9 months, the bridge was yet to get halfway.
From the point where the contractor had reached at the time, Governor Wike and the editors looked across the river into the virgin land and houses on the other side. It appeared as if the project will never be completed.  
When the editors returned in 2017, Governor Wike had funded and supervised the project to the level that the main structure of the bridge was across the River. Though the road was yet to be constructed on the other side as the administration was still sorting out the issues of compensation. 
Aside the Nigerian Guild of Editors, another group  that witnessed  the progression of the Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge was the Nigerian Bar Association.  During their 56th Annual General Conference held in Port Harcourt in August 2016, Governor Wike took them on a tour of projects.  The Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge was one of the projects that was visited.

 Hundreds of lawyers on that team marvelled  at the commitment of the Rivers State Governor in delivering a project of that magnitude. At the end of this particular inspection, young lawyers could not hide their appreciation as they overwhelmingly celebrated the Rivers State Governor. 

 Still on that stretch is the Abuluoma-Woji Bridge which was abandoned by the previous administration at 30 percent, but completed by Governor Wike.  Both projects overwhelmed  the immediate past Rivers State Governor because of their scoop.

 All through the last quarter of 2015 when Governor Wike consolidated the process for the completion of Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge, the reason why the Amaechi administration fled the site was obvious. The project required commitment, strict supervision, dedicated funding and patience.  That failed administration lacked all these qualities. 

 The Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge was awarded by the previous administration in 2009 at N3billion. The same immediate past failed Amaechi administration revalued the road to N11billion. 

 It refused to fund the project after three years of inconsistency. As a result, the contractor fled the site. Nothing much was done, even though  the Inter-Change was critical  to free flow of traffic.

 Governor Wike personally supervised the paving of the new road which links Woji-Elelenwo through to Akpajo in Eleme Local Government Area.  The governor debated with the contractors at different times, insisting on the best for Rivers people. 

 From 2015 to 2018, the administration of Governor Wike worked round the clock to deliver this all-important project. 

 The project is now an architectural masterpiece.  A beauty to behold and a golden manifestation of quality projects delivery. It is furnished with streetlights, flyover, under-pass, 750 meter bridge and a link road.

 On June 8, 2018, the Rivers State Government delivered this brand new road to the good people of the state. It was a celebration of performance as men of goodwill gathered  irrespective of party affiliation. 

 Expectedly, the people of both communities trooped out in celebration of this outstanding gift. They sang and danced, praising the commitment of Governor Wike to their welfare and progress.  Even though the commissioning ceremony was held in the night, they lined the streets to chant pro-Wike songs.

 The Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge was commissioned by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara.  He was overwhelmed by what he saw. His joy was written on his face. The relevance of the project transcended party politics. 

 He saw first the hard work of a leader committed to the welfare of Rivers people.  This spurred Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara to make very profound  declarations.

 Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara described the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a  refiner's fire and a fullers' soap, who has diligently transformed Rivers State. 

 He said: "This governor is a consummation of excellence.  He is a representative of a refiner's fire and a fullers soap. A refiner's fire separates impurities from the gold and leaves the gold intact . 

 "Refiner's fire brings out the best. A fullers soup removes dirts and leaves the cloth sparkling clean. I am exceedingly proud of what Governor Wike has done "

 He congratulated the people of Rivers State for the luck of having Governor Wike who is thriving in excellence. 

 The Speaker noted that though he belongs to the APC, as a parliamentarian, the entire country is his constituency. He noted that only tribalists are restricted to their tribes and political parties.

 According to him, democracy has no place for tribalists, because  they don't value performance. 

 "I wonder why someone will look at this project and say nothing exists. If that is the case, the person is a tribalist. As citizens, we celebrate excellence and we must celebrate Governor Wike", the Speaker said.

 He said that in some other states, projects of the nature of Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway would be celebrated for weeks.

 Dogara noted that in view of the developmental nature of the major projects outlined by Governor Wike, President Muhammadu Buhari would honour the invitation of Rivers State Government to perform the commissioning. 

 The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that the people of Rivers State know what did concerning Governor Wike in the past and they know what they are to do concerning him, moving forward.

 At the commissioning ceremony, Governor Wike explained why he invited the Speaker of the House of Representatives to commission this massive project.

 "I don't want to invite my party person to commission this project. If I do, they will say I am playing tricks. That is why I invited a leader from another party to commission it. We are committed to the welfare of Rivers people ", he said.

 Governor Wike said that though the road was awarded in 2009, the previous administration failed to fund it, leading abandonment in 2012.

 "This project is very useful. That is why we chose to complete it. There was no road here at the time we came. We completed  the road and the bridge. We have paid the contractor  up to 95 percent.

 "This road is an alternative route to Trans-Amadi-Slaughter Road. Ordinarily, we would have tolled it, but due to our love for the people, we will not toll it", Governor Wike said. 

 The commissioning of Woji-Elelenwo Dual Carriageway and Bridge signals another golden delivery by Nigeria's best performing governor.  It is a clear case of placing the people's interest above ego and partisan consideration. 

 Like the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe noted whilst commissioning Abacha Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is lucky to have Governor Wike because of his love for the people. He emphasised that this love has translated into meaningful projects. 

 Rivers State is now the cynosure of all eyes because of a performing governor. But bear in mind that the third year anniversary of the administration of Governor Wike is yet to reach the halfway line . The projects are talking, while we keep our peace. Ride on Mr Projects, the Refiner's Fire.
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GOVERNOR WIKE TO AMAECHI: RIVERS PEOPLE VOTED FOR ME BECAUSE OF MY OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE.. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that Rivers people overwhelmingly voted for him during the 2019 Governorship Election because of his outstanding performance and projects delivery. In a response to false allegations made by the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi during his appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that the Former Rivers State Governor failed in his quest to truncate his second term because Rivers people are happy with his work. He said he wouldn't have responded to the falsehood being peddled by the Minister of Transportation, but he owes the public the duty to set the record straight. He said: "It is unfortunate. I extended the Olive Branch and I meant every word of it. It was on that basis that the State Attorney General filed a nolle prosequi to withdraw the charge against Flag Amachree. "If I did not do well in my first term, PDP wouldn't have given me the party's flag to fly. In 2015, the same man vowed that over his dead body would I emerge victorious. "I have done well for my people . It is for the people of Rivers State to decide. It is not the in the place of Amaechi to decide. "We have over 6million people and over 3million registered voters. Therefore, Amaechi cannot say I cannot go for a second term. He has only one vote. "In the past, he said an Ikwerre man cannot succeed another Ikwerre man. Today, he is saying his grouse is that I cannot go for a second term. At every step, he has one story or the other". Governor Wike said contrary to the story that Amaechi peddled whilst he was on Channels Television, kidnapping raged during his tenure. He said it was so bad that the State Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission under Amaechi was kidnapped. The Governor noted that despite the National High-Rate of insecurity, Rivers State is relatively peaceful, with very high ratings. "Our internally Generated Revenue has improved due to the peace and security of the state". Governor Wike said that the political misfortune that befell the APC during the last general elections in Rivers State was principally due to the impunity of Amaechi . He said: "It is because of this impunity that his party was not on the ballot. Because of this impunity he has denied so many people their political future ". He said that the plots by Amaechi to manipulate the Tribunal will fail like other previous plots. The Governor noted that Amaechi's boast that he appointed the members of the tribunal and they would work for him remains one of his empty boasts. Governor Wike said that Amaechi's plot to use the police to illegally certify fake results as he did for Rivers East Senatorial District during the rerun elections tribunal would fail. "The game he played in Rivers East of using the police to certify fake results will not work. During the rerun Police certified fake results. That game will not work again. We have gone beyond that . We are waiting for the police to certify fake results for Amaechi ". He stated that there was no way that the defeated AAC Governorship Candidate, Engr Awara would have been coasting to victory when he neither campaigned or printed posters. He said: "Awara ran for the PDP councillorship in 2018 and lost. For this election, he did not Campaign and never printed posters. "Look at that kind of impunity. He brought a man that the people of Rivers State never knew three days to the election. "The AAC had no House of Assembly Candidates, they had no House of Representatives Candidates and No Senate Candidates for the elections. There is no way that such a party would have been coasting to victory ". He added that the AAC Governorship Candidate couldn't have been coasting to victory and still approach the Federal High Court for the cancellation of the Governorship Election Results. On the allegation that the INEC Chairman , Professor Mahmood Yakubu influenced the suspension of the Collation process because he worked under him at the Federal Ministry of Education, the Rivers State Governor said that the position of Amaechi was baseless. He said that at the Ministry of Education, he superintended basic Education, while the INEC Chairman served as TETFUND Executive Secretary under the Minister of Education. He said that the INEC Chairman was appointed by the APC Federal Government and since his appointment, there has been no links Governor Wike said despite the evil machinations of the Minister of Transportation, he was unable to deliver 25 percent of votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019 "In 2015, as a sitting Governor, he failed to deliver 25percent of votes for President Buhari. He claimed that Jonathan helped us. In 2019, with all the security agencies, he still couldn't deliver 25percent for President Buhari. "He sang war songs, but couldn't deliver 25 percent of votes for the President ", he said. On the incident at Obio/Akpor LGA Secretariat, Governor Wike said that the GOC of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarhem sent soldiers to invade the Collation Centre and cart away results . "I went there to stop the Army from carting away results from my Local Government Area ", he said. Governor Wike said that the illegal activities of the Nigerian Army all through the Governorship Election were well documented by the media and the International community. He said that the videos of the Army invading the Rivers State Governorship Election Collation Centre has since gone viral. He said that even the Rivers State Commander of F-SARs has since written him a congratulatory letter on his well deserved victory. He said that his Administration continues to fund all security agencies in the state, including providing needed logistics. He said that the Israelis that Amaechi introduced were only used to siphon State resources . He wondered why Amaechi finds Pleasure in de-marketing Rivers State, when the State made him Speaker, Governor and Minister of the Federal Republic. Governor Wike said after four years as a Minister, Amaechi cannot boast of attracting a single project to Rivers State. He noted that as Minister of State for Education, he attracted several projects to the state. He denied attempting to bribe the GOC, saying that he has never met him at any point. He said by Amaechi's logic, it means that the Minister bribed the GOC 6 Division to subvert the Electoral Process. Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media. 7th May, 2019.

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