Peter Odili ex-Rivers State Governor, has said it was God that destined Sir Siminalayi Fubara to become the governor of the state.
Addressing the governor while inaugurating the dualised Omoku-Egbema Road constructed by the Fubara administration, Odili said: “Your Excellency, the man God destined to govern Rivers State; a humble man of God and a man whose life reflects the fear of God; a man who doesn’t talk too much but does a lot.”
Odili said Fubara had taken full control of governance in Rivers State and was focused on the people in line with his chosen mantra, People First.
Odili thanked Fubara for the project delivered in the area and urged him to remain focused on the people by giving succour to the less-privileged and hope to the hopeless.
He said: “I can tell our people that the next election is very far, but what the Governor has done so far is enough to secure the support of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area going forward.
“So, once your focus remains with the people, especially the less-privileged, the poor, those who are struggling to feed every day, once they remain your focus, I want to agree with you that the sky would become the take-off point of your administration.”
Odili assured that the entire people of Rivers were behind Fubara, “rallying support for him because they trust him, believing in what he says and convinced that he means whatever he says.”
Speaking at the occasion, Fubara said that the delivery of developmental projects and social services by his administration would not be politicised because they were geared towards solving the needs faced by the people of the state.
The governor explained that while all human and societal challenges could not be solved at once, every promise made by his administration would be fulfilled within available resources and delivered on schedule.
The governor said: “When the project was added to the list of projects to mark our one year in office, there was a challenge but the contractor assured of delivering it, which is a reality today.
“What are we doing today? We are here to tell our people that they are the most important thing to us. We are here to assure you that every part of this state will have positive impact of our administration.
“We can make bold to say that today, a project that was impossible in the past was made possible by this administration.
“If within this short period we could deliver this to our people who were yearning for this road, crying and complaining, it is a sign that this government has the interest of the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area at heart.
“So, I want to assure you: don’t let anybody deceive you anywhere. This is the right boat to join. The captain of this boat, his own mantra is ‘The People First’. So, I assure you, with your support, the sky is our beginning.”
Fubara said it would be improper for him not to appreciate the people of ONELGA because the campaigns that led to his election started in the area.
Granting some of their requests, Fubara said: “Here and now, we are mandating the Ministry of Works to ensure that the remaining part of this road project leading to the boundary with Imo State should be completed (Okwuizi boundary to Abacheke).
“We are also assuring you that the health centre matter, more especially the zonal hospital, we are going to complete it. The contractor will move to site in the next one week.
“So, let me use this opportunity, on behalf of the government and the good people of our dear state, to say thank you for supporting us before, during and also after the election.
“Let me assure you that whatever we say, we will live up to it. We will not make promises that we will not keep.
“We will make promises after checking our resources. We will make promises that are within our capacity to deliver, and delivering it in good time.”
The governor explained that he invited Odili to inaugurate the project because the former governor understood the needs of the people.
He said: “This is not politics. This is giving back to our people. So, I want somebody who understands the need of our people, and what we are doing is to come and speak to our people.
“I want somebody who has the direct interest of this LGA at heart to come and speak to his people, so that we will understand that when we are in position, what is important is not self, what is important is the people.”
Providing the description of the road, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Atemea Briggs, said the road project indicated how Fubara had consistently prioritised the needs of the people and solve critical problems.
In his welcome address, High Chief Shedrack Akalokwu, noted that Fubara was soft spoken, his leadership was action-packed, with successes that far outweighed public expectations of his administration.
He said: “We are grateful that in the short period of less than one year in office, Your Excellency is here today to superintend over the commissioning of the Omoku-Egbema Dual Carriageway in our local government area.
“The Erema junction-Akabuka- Ogbogu-Obite-Ede-Okposi dual carriageway speedily being executed by the construction giant, Julius Berger, is very refreshing. The news of the award of 33.5km Elele-Omudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku dual carriageway has been received with gladsome mind.
“That project is magic infrastructural access that would gladden the hearts of our people as there would be drastic reduction of time and distance from our local government to the state capital.
“All our people are in one accord in conveying our support, solidarity, gratitude and total loyalty to this government of which we are an integral part.”