As Rivers standstill for the heroic welcome of the Minister for Transportation Rtd Hon Rotimi Amaechi for the Tuesday’s ground breaking ceremony of the flag off of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Guage, Governor Nyesom Wike has questioned the rationale behind the historic event.
Wike who said the project was designed to deceive the people said the project was not a need of Rivers State.
Wike who made the statement in company of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido during the inauguration of the Rumuji- Iba- Obelle- Isiokpo road tackled the Bonny Deep Sea Port project saying it is not feasible as the end of the tenure of the present administration was nead.
He added that the Federal Government had done nothing for the people of the state and said that the flag- off was designed to deceive the people of the state.
” They want to do Bonny Deep Sea Port, for how many years now? Before the the drawing will come out,has the governmentt not gone? They know they will not do it,They only have this year, next year is political year. Tell them we cannot be deceived any longer.”
” Let them tell us what they had done for Rivers State.I hear they want to flag -off railways narrow guage from here to Maiduguri.Is that what we need?
Wike ‘ s outburst comes just as some opinion leaders see the Port Harcourt- Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Guage as a welcome development.
A retired civil servant who spoke to our correspondent in Port Harcourt said the rail project was the best news in recent times.
According to him, the development was better than reports of linking rail line to Niger Republic.
He added that it would be wrong for the Minister for Transportation to leave office after 8 years without citing legendary Federal projecst in the state.
” This is what we want to hear, not to rail construction to Niger Republic. Let your people feel your impact after leaving office and Transportation Ministerial for 8 years.
Another resident,who goes by the name Tom, said if Wike claims as the Federal Government not doing anything for the state is unfounded as he pointed out the refund of the N78 billion expended on road projects.
” This project is a landmark project by the Buhari government. Anywhere there is development in the world. It is not magic they use. It is something like this. I don’t understand why a governmentt of the state who should be at the front enlightening people about the good news of the flag- off would fiercely oppose.
” If it’s political,it is wrong.Development should not be sacrificed on the alter of politics.Let the governor work with his brother to achieve this project. otherwise we will be the sore loosers” he said.
