Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to sheath their swords for peace to reign in the Southsouth state.
The former leader called for a ceasefire, saying that the escalation of the political tension is inimical to progress.
Dr. Jonathan, who spoke while kicking off the construction of the N222.1bn Trans-Kalabari Road in Kalabari Kingdom, said the governor and minister must work together to advance the growth and development of the state.
He emphasised that the protracted crisis could hamper the development of Rivers.
Warning against the destabilisation of the state, Jonathan said it would negatively affect the Niger Delta region and have spiral effects on the country.
The former president commended efforts of some leaders, who had intervened in the festering political crisis.
He insisted that Wike and Fubara must embrace a truce so that the crisis would not snowball into a bigger regional and national challenge with greater consequences.
The former president, who lamented the problems associated with transition at the centre, explained that while the challenge was always better managed at the centre, the crisis was worse at the state level.
He suggested that outgoing governors and their successors must devise a means to work together for the collective interest of their people.
Jonathan said: “In this case of Rivers, Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara must work together for the development of the land and the people of Rivers State. The tension will not help us.
“Rivers State is very critical in this country. Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta. If Rivers State is destabilised, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilised, and it will not end within the Niger Delta alone because I am from this part of the country, and I know how the system works. We don’t want any crisis in Rivers State.
“Leaders most know that nobody takes 100 percent. You most learn the principle of give and take. So, our political actors most work together if you love Rivers people.
“I join the leaders of Rivers State and well-meaning Nigerians who have been calling for truce, who have been calling for ceasefire, to also re-emphasize that there is the need for a ceasefire. Let us do things that will rather project this State positively.”
He added: “There is this common saying that when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. Both the governor and the minister are young people, very young people. But, they are powerful, and if you continue to fight, Rivers people will suffer. We don’t want the Rivers people to suffer.
“So, we are calling on them to embrace themselves. One hand does not clap. It takes two hands to clap. So, we want them to work together for the collective interest of Rivers people.
“Whatever has happened, has passed. Let us move to a new phase for the interest of the state, for the interest of the Niger Delta, and indeed, the interest of the country”.
Jonathan commended Fubara for his vision, commitment and courage to construct the road saying the infrastructure would guarantee ease of movement, enhance response time to security issues, and promote integration and economic growth.
He said: “When I was asked to come and flag-off this project, I felt that it is only a person who has vision, and the commitment to develop his people that can do this.
“Your Excellency, let me commend you for your vision and the courage to start this project. In fact, it is not going to be a tea party. If you must develop a nation, region or state, there are critical elements that count. These are good road network, airport, rail and water transport systems as well as security.”
Jonathan said by providing these enablers, development would thrive in the state.
He thanked the governor for daring to dream big and venturing into projects avoided by previous administrations
Fubara assured that his administration was determined to deliver the Trans-Kalabari Road project to stimulate socio-economic activities in the rural communities.
The governor urged the people to take ownership of the project and ward-off any form of sabotage that mayvfrustrate its timely completion.
Fubara said he understood the difficult swampy terrain that the road would traverse and its high cost implications.
However, he said the project must be done in the interest of the state.
The governor said funding for the project would come from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and federal allocations for the project, adding that he had already paid 30 per cent of the contract sum to mobilise the contractor to the site.
Fubara added: “When we went for campaign in the three local government areas of Kalabari Kingdom, we promised you that if you give us your votes and we succeed, we will embark on the Trans-Kalabari Road.
“That is what we have come to do today. We are a government. When we make promise, we keep our promises.
“I understand the cost. I understand the difficult terrain and I also understand that somebody has to take this step. If it is not done by me, then, another person can also do it. But within our time, it is proper for us to make a statement to our people.
“I don’t want to talk about politics on this project. I want us to look at the facts. It is a difficult terrain, it is going to be expensive, but we are equal to the task.
“Let me also say it for record purposes: We are not going to borrow to embark on this project. We have saved and we are using our savings to pay off the cost, which we have already done, the 30 percent initial advance payment. So, the contractor has no reason to delay, but to start off the project immediately”.
Fubara appealed to the people of Rumuolumeni to cooperate with the contractors to enable them deliver the project on time.
Alluding to the remarks by the Amanyanabo of Abonnema on project costing in riverine areas, he it is four times the cost doing a similar project in the upland.
He said when the project is completed, it would help to solve the problems associated with cost of property development in the riverine communities.
Fubara stressed: “This road will bring development to our people. This road will bring economic advancement to our people. So, we need your buy-in. Your buy-in is not just standing here with us today, but giving all the necessary support.
“You need to also cooperate with the contractor, your leaders and chiefs, so that there will be no sabotage.
“Let me also say it clearly, for those of you who are planning to sabotage it, it is your business. If we don’t do it in our own time, I wonder when you are going to get it. So, you need to buy-in into this project. The advantage of this project is making life easy for our people.
“For us as a government, our duty remains people first. Those things that we know will make life easy for you, are the areas that we will pay attention to.
“So, please, give us the necessary support so that this project will be achieved at a record time. This way, we can also look at other aspects of the state economy.
“We are not going to focus only on roads. But this particular road is important to the development of our State. That is why we are starting it now because of the time that is required to deliver it.”
Fubara said the Trans-Kalabari Road project would have many bridges and deck-on-pile as it was being built on the swamp, assuring that it will be completed during his tenure.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Atemea Briggs, said Fubara is committed to the provision of infrastructure to promote socio-economic growth and urban expansion.
He explained that the 12.5km project would link Kalabari land by road to the metropolis with four concrete bridges measuring 576meters, 288meters, 360meters and 108meters, separately.
He said: “The road commences from the Port Harcourt Ring Road at the Aker-Nkpor Road junction where we are currently seated, and extends through the swampy area behind Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
“The road will include a series of bridge crossings, leading to Oguru-Ama, Bakana, Bukuma and Tombia. The first phase of the project is 12.5kilometer long, and it is expected to be completed within 32 months.
“The road features are 7.3meter carriage way, 2.5meter surface concrete shoulders and solar street lighting. It also consist 100 millimeter asphaltic to concrete surface scene, 150 millimeter crush granite base course and a 200 millimeter cement stabilizer sub-base.
“Additionally, the road includes four pre criss-crossed concrete bridges measuring 576 meters, 288 meters, 360 meters and 108 meters as well as 3 pre-stress deck-on-piles measuring 700 meters, 520 meters and 450 meters, respectively.”
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