…Stuns ‘Doubting Thomases’ With More Projects Flag Off, Commissioning
It was during the first half of this year, precisely on 27th of May, 2021,while commissioning the Rivers State Cassava Flour Processing in Oyigbo Local Government Area, that Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike told Rivers people to expect another round of commissioning and flag off of projects in December, 2021.
Many, particularly his ardent critics, did not take him serious. They held tight, the belief that governors do not ‘do well’ in their second tenures. There was also a section of Wike’s traducers who would swear that because of their perceived political ambition of the governor, he would want to stack or stash so much money to pursue that ambition.
But Governor Wike was unperturbed and continued with his program of massive infrastructural development, with a promise to add two new flyovers at Rumuola and the GRA areasto the already existing ones.
But where would the money come from, many asked. The Governor had answered the question with projections, summing up expected internally generated revenue (IGR) and what would come from Abuja by way of allocations.
Alas!In his characteristic manner, Governor Wike had disappointed the ‘Doubting Thomases’ as the government on Monday, December 6, 2021, rolled out schedule of events marking the continuation of commissioning and flag off of projects in Port Harcourt, the state capital and other parts of the state.
The schedule showed that the Rumuola and GRA Flyovers, two amazing spectacles that had turned the area to some kind of Eldorado, would be commissioned on Thursday, December 9, 2021 and Saturday, December 11, 2021 respectively.
On Monday, 13th December, 2021, being the birthday of Governor Nyesom Wike, all roads would lead to Ezimgbu community of Obio/Akpor local Government Area for the commissioning of the rebranded and reinvigorated Ezimgbu Road.
Not done, Governor Wike would on Tuesday, 14th December, 2021 lead his team to cut the tape and unveil a brand new Tombia Extension in GRA, Port Harcourt.
The Safe Home in Borokiri area of Port Harcourt would be the governor’s next port of call on Wednesday, 15th day of December, 2021 for the commissioning of the popular charity home.
The schedule further showed that the award-winning governor would travel to Odiokwu on Thursday, December 16, 2021, where the reconstructed internal roads would also be commissioned.
It would be more busy days ahead for Governor Wike as he travels to Etche and Oyigbo Local Government Areas. At Etche on Monday, December 20, 2021, he would flag-off the Chokocho-Igbodo Road. Similarly, on Wednesday, 22nd December, 2021, the governor would flag-off the Oyigbo-Okoloma Road.
Governor Wike would draw the curtains on Thursday, December 23, 2021 with flag-off of the Magistrates Court Complex in Port Harcourt.
Against this backdrop, it would not be out of place for the governor to beat his hands on the chest and affirm his ‘promise keeping’ personage. By the year 2023, when Governor Wike has served out his meritorious 8 years as the Chief Executive of Rivers State, he would have left this quantum of projects as legacies. He would have left an indelible print in gold for posterity.
Recall that between Thursday, 27th of May, 2021 and Thursday, July 8, 2021, a total of 37 projects were either flagged off or commissioned by Governor Wike whose aliases continue to swell by the day – Golden Governor, Mr. Projects and PoS (Africa).
Some of these projects include the soon to be commissioned Bori-Kono Road, Aluu-Omagwa Road, Emohua, Etche and Ahoada Campuses of the Rivers State University (RSU) and Ahoada-Omoku Road.
A list of projects, some of which have already been commissioned or awaiting commissioning include: National Industrial Court Judges Quarters; Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; Rivers State University Senate Building and College of Medical Sciences Building.
There was also the Signing of Agreement and flag-off of Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases Diagnostics and Treatment Center; Mother and Child Specialist Hospital and flag-off of Government Secondary School, Kpor, Gokana.
Others were flag-off of Ogbunabali/Eastern Bye Pass Road; Foundation laying of Haemodialysis and Renal Center at RSUTH; internal roads at Ogbakiri; Flag-off of Rumuepirikom Flyover; Commissioning of Odufor-Umuoye Road; Commissioning of Isaiah Odoli/Omerelu Street; Commissioning of Herbert Macauley and Nzimiro Streets and flag-off of Trans Kalabari Road.
The list also include: Commissioning of Government Secondary School, Obiagu, Oyigbo; Flag-off of Omerelu Internal Roads; Commissioning of Omueze-Umuogberi-Eberi Road; Flag-off of Abonnema/Obonoma Sand-fill; Commissioning of Community Seconday School, Eteo; Commissioning of Pabod Breweries and Oginigba Roads; Flag-off of Mgbuetanwo Roads and Flag-off of Woji-Aleto-Alesa Road.
There was the Commissioning of Rumuigbo and other Old GRA Roads; Commissioning of William Jumbo/Ernest Ikoli/Eleme and other adjoining streets.
There was also the flag-off Okrika Sand fill; flag-off of Okochiri Internal Roads; Commissioning of Rehabilitation Center, Iriebe; Commissioning of Opobo/Nkoro Road; Commissioning of NURSS Secretariat as well as Foundation Laying of University of Port Harcourt Convocation Arena and the Reconstruction of Government House Jetty.
