…Says It’s Now Death Trap To Pedestrians
The people of Tema Community, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have cried out to the State governor, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike over life threatening danger to their people occasioned by the collapsed Tema-Bridge at T-Junction by the Kalabari end of the Emohua/Kalabari Road (spotting the military post).
The bridge as it hangs, is nothing short of a death trap, the people lamented.
Sequel to the collapse of the highly indispensable bridge according to the people, the two Kalabari communities of Tema and Ifoko linked to the upland part of the state by the bridge have been regrettably cut off.
Consequently, the Tema Council of Chiefs has written a ‘Save Our Soul” letter to His Excellency, drawing the governor’s attention to the parlous state of the bridge.
In the letter signed by Chief D. B. George, Chairman, Tema Council of Chiefs, on behalf of the elders, chiefs, women, youths and Community Development Committee (CDC), the Tema chiefs noted the socio-economic importance of the bridge and pleaded with His Excellency to, as a matter of urgency ‘crown’ his landmark infrastructural achievements across the state by rehabilitating the bridge before he leaves office later this month.
The Tema Council of Chiefs expressed their warm appreciation to Governor Wike for the special attention to the Kalabari land by the Rivers State government under his watch.
The Kalabari people, according to the Council of Chiefs will continue to be grateful to Gov Wike for his large heart and monumental government projects especially the Trans-Kalabari Road which connects six Kalabari communities to the upland Rivers State.
Further giving reasons for the urgency demanded of rehabilitating the Tema/Ifoko Road and the Tema-Bridge, the chiefs listed the numerous advantages the two projects will bring to he entire Rivers people and residents which include: reinforcing the existing Choba/Port Harcourt, Emohua, Sama, Okpo, Illelema, Obuama, Usokun, Degema Consulate Abonnema and Obonnoma route, it will also provide alternative entry points via Choba, Port Harcourt, Sama, Tema, Ifoko, Sangana, Omekwe Ama Omekwe Tariah Amah, Angulama, Minna Ama and Krakrama routes, the chiefs also added.
Though very excited over the Trans-Kalabari Road that is now a reality with the first phase completed and commissioned, the Tema people believe that if the dilapidated Tema-Bridge is not remedied, it will be a missing link in the Trans-Kalabari Road that ought to connect these two Kalabari Communities (Tema and Ifoko) with the other communities.
“We are also of the view that the siting of the Rivers State University, Emohua campus makes it a necessity to rehabilitate the collapsed Tema bridge as some students of the institution may be residing in the communities linked by the bridge and which are close to the university campus, namely: Tema, Ifoko, Omekwe Ama, Angulama, Minna Ama, and many others.
To give bite to their passionate plea to the governor for the urgent need to rehabilitate the Tema-bridge, the people in their numbers including youths, women and even children embarked on a peaceful protest, Monday, May 15, 2023 to draw home their demand.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the protesters, the Chairman, Tema Council of Chief, Chief D. B. George said they believe that if their plight is brought to the attention of the governor, as a listening and caring leader, he will do something about it notwithstanding that he has a few weeks to leave office.
They believe that as a pragmatic leader that has the interest and welfare of the people at heart, Gov Wike will put all machinery in place to get the bridge fixed immediately.
The Tema chief on behalf of the good people of Tema thanked the governor for supporting and ensuring that another illustrious son of Rivers State, and unassuming personality in the person of Sir Siminalayi Fubara succeeds him in office so that his legacies and his giant developmental strides will be sustained.
