Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday said voting revolution would be one of the strategies the rivers’ electorate would deploy in the 2023 general election to ensure that haters of the state fail at the polls.
The governor, who spoke at Obodhi-Ozochi Junction, venue for the flag-off of Obodhi-Ozochi Road/Bridge construction in Ahoada West Local Government Area, explained that the voting revolution was to ensure that the consolidation team that would be headed by the governorship candidate of the PeoplemDemocratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sir. Siminialayi Fubara, is elected.
He disclosed that the PDP in the state would commence its campaign by next Monday in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, adding that it would be in the interest of the people of the state to vote for the PDP governorship, Federal and state legislative candidates in order to consolidate on the gains of the past seven years.
According to him, the state would suffer stagnation if any opposition party was erroneously voted into power, urging voters in Ekpeye land to get ready and be part of the voting revolution with the same excitement shown as they received the democratic dividends delivered by his administration in the area.
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Wike recalled how some of their sons such as the Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie; Hope Ikiriko and Benjamin Eke, among others, had supported his bid to become governor in 2015.
They believed in his course, he said, and today, they are delighted that they are part of the government and are attracting development to communities in Ekpeye land.
Governor Wike, particularly, thanked God for enabling him to change the development narrative for communities as they have not witnessed government presence.
He said Hon. Edison Ehie was the first to notify him that Ozochi has never been linked by road to any neighbouring town.
The governor frowned at the non-execution of the contract for the reconstruction of Government Secondary School in Okarki by a local contractor, Ekpeye sons, even when the firm had been paid 100 percent of the contract sum.
He, however, announced that his administration would re-award the project to another company and ensure its completion, warning youths in the area against attacking road construction workers as the government would not hesitate to discontinue the project.
Wike also awarded the contract for the construction of Eleume-Oshiobele Road, and pronounced government’s recognition for the paramount rulers of Ogbogolo and Odiokwu communities in Ahoada West Local Council.
The governor frowned at Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, the traditional ruler of Igbu Ukpata for his recent activities that marked him out as undermining the seat of government of the state.
The governor said his administration, which recognised and upgraded the traditional stool upon which Eze Felix Otuwarikpo sits would not tolerate a situation where the monarch uses it to stage a political fight against his administration and government.
Describing the project, Commissioner for Works, Dr George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo said no vehicle has ever driven on land into the two benefiting communities.
The construction work, he noted, would provide asphalted road of 11.2 KM in length that will have 100-millimetre pavement thickness with 200 meters long, 10 span bridge. The work, handled by SETRACO Nigeria Limited would be completed in eight months.
