…Urges Gov Wike To ‘Step-Down’ On Federal Projects
Renowned preacher and Ijaw rights activist, Rev. (Dr) Sokari Soberekon has said he is unhappy over the non-completion of the Trans-Kalabari road project and wants Governor Nyesom Wike to use his second term in office to complete the project as promised the people before election into his first tenure in 2015.
Soberekon who stated these while speaking to journalists at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia where he attended the Swearing-in ceremony of Governor Wike last Wednesday, appealed to the governor to place the Trans-Kalabari road project and other developmental issues as a priority.
The non-partisan activist, who is touted as ‘Senior Advocate of the Niger Delta’ (SAND), said the lull in completion of the Trans-Kalabari road project is given him sleepless nights considering the socio-economic importance which the project holds not just for the Kalabari people but people across the spectrum.
He said the development became worrisome as the governor is even executing projects meant for the federal government while allegedly leaving out those which had direct bearing on his people.
Clutching a giant billboard which bore various inscriptions to drive home his message to Governor Wike and President Mohammadu Buhari, the cleric declared: “Let’s not rob Peter to pay Paul. Governor Wike should step down on federal projects.
“It’s sad that in spite of all the scarce resources our Governor is committing to assist the federal government in areas of security and infrastructure, all he gets as ‘thank you’ is unwarranted insults from the Army. As far as I’m concerned, any insult against Governor Wike is insult on all Rivers people”.
While pouring encomiums on Governor Wike for a successful first term in office, especially in the area of infrastructure, education and healthcare, the activist who pastors the Christ Jesus Link Gospel Publishers Church in Port Harcourt, however urged him to do more to justify the overwhelming confidence given him by Rivers people.
In the wake of the rumored Presidential directive on establishment of State Police, Soberekon advised Governor Wike to establish his own security outfit with Rivers State coat of arms.
“Government should remove the federal government coat of arms from its letter-head and put Rivers State Coat of Arms which is in the Executive Council Meeting Hall in the Government House, on the right wing of the Podium Block”, he said, adding that the coat of arms’ motto is ‘equality, service and justice’.
He revealed that the first governor of old Rivers State, Commander Diette-Spiff enforced the spirit of the motto by appointing an English man named Justice Holden as the first Chief Judge of Rivers State as part of the implementation of equality and justice.
The cleric further appealed that in addition to the Trans-Kalabari road, the governor should construct Imama Apakabo Road from Eastern By-pass to Creek Road, Borokiri, Kalio Ama to link the East West Road through Refinery, adding that the road should be called ‘Wike Road’.
