Wike chides FG for neglecting Rivers in N148b road contract award

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has decried the deplorable state of the East-West Road and lampooned the Federal Government for omitting the state in the N148 billion released for road construction.

Wike accused the Federal Government of deliberately neglecting Rivers State in spite it being one of the major crude oil and gas producing states in the country.

The governor, who spoke while commissioning the new Rivers State Civil Servants Quarters in Port Harcourt, said marginalisation in a federation was a shameful act.

“The Federal Government released N148 billion for the construction of roads and it did not consider one road in Rivers State. Look at the condition of the East-West Road. Shame on those who say they are working with the current Federal Government but cannot protect the interest of Rivers State in that government.

“We are producing oil that finances projects in the country and the Federal Government can release N148 billion for roads and Rivers State was neglected. You are working with the Federal Government and you cannot attract projects to Rivers State. Anyone who is in APC and is from Rivers State, shame on you,” he said.

He, however, urged Rivers politicians, who are members of the ruling APC, to plead with the Federal Government to ensure that developmental projects are done in Rivers State to expand their political relevance, saying: “You are there, you cannot even say for my sake, help me and give me one road so I can go home and tell my people this is what I brought to Rivers State. What offence has Rivers State committed in this country that this Federal Government cannot for one day remember the state. They have our son as their director-general. If for nothing, since he is your director-general, help him and do one project for his people. Tomorrow, you will say Rivers people should vote for you. Which vote? We won’t do that. Nobody is a slave. We are not slaves. We cannot be conquered by anybody.”

Meanwhile, Wike, who disclosed that he had submitted a list of possible nominees into his cabinet to security agencies for profiling, said appointments would be made at the appropriate time.

He expressed happiness with the quality of the project and urged the civil servants to maintain the facility.

“This government is here for you. It is here to give you the best. As civil servants, always put in your best for Rivers State,” he said.

Head of Service of Rivers State, Rufus Godwin, said since the creation of Rivers State, there have been five constructed civil servants quarters, out of which Governor Wike developed three.

Also, Permanent Secretary of Rivers State Ministry of Housing, Mr. Joseph Amieofori, said that the new civil servants residence was constructed through direct labour.

Chairman of Rivers State Association of Civil Servants, Austin Jonah, thanked the Rivers State Governor for investing in the welfare of civil servants.