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Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, erstwhile National Spokesperson of nPDP and ally of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has described the current strategy of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State invitation of some prominent Nigerians to commission projects in the state as fraudulent.

Former Presidents of Nigeria, highly respected traditional rulers,  prized political and religious leaders had been to Rivers to commission projects which were initiated and completed by his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the APC claimed, describing it  “as most unfortunate and exhibition of fraudulent, iberberism, comic and bizarre poor leadership output”.

Chief Eze who stated that he would not have disturbed himself reacting to the Governor’s macabre dance if in his submissions before those he invited to commission some of these projects they were told that these projects were hitherto initiated, completed and commissioned by his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and that he (Wike) only asphalted and repainted some of these projects for recommissioning.

Eze who claimed to have been privileged to work under both Governor Nyesom Wike and Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi described Amaechi as a patriotic Nigerian whose love for the emancipation and development of Rivers State is infectious.

He further stated that the only project worth mentioning which Governor Wike can comfortably claim credit to are the two round-about at Garrison junction and Weja Junction which were initially designed as fly-overs by the administration of Amaechi which he Wike wasted a whopping sum of seventeen billion Naira (N17B) to construct thereby becoming the first roundabout in Nigeria to cost such a fraudulent amount that ought to be investigated by the EFCC.

Eze described most of the commissioning events by Governor Wike as fraudulent and acts imbibed in total disregard to decorum, accountability and transparency and should be condemned by all lovers of a better and developed Rivers State.

“Instead of Governor Wike busying himself organising a bizarre and comic showpiece of commissioning projects he never executed, he should instead learn from his counterparts like Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State who is building a Vehicle Assembling factory, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State who is building a very mighty rice factory that will boost the agricultural sector of the state that will produce 32,000 tons every day and also set to launch 5,000 new buses in Lagos in addition to numerous other feats” Eze noted.

Other State Governors, Chief Eze admonished Wike to learn from are: Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi who has not only built thousands of road networks but built three high class flyovers; Governor Dickson of Baylesa State who is redefining governance in his State.

Others are Governor Atiku Baguda of Kebbi who has achieved stable power supply in 16 LGAs and also established the Rice Pyramid (Lake Rice) in partnership with Lagos. On his part, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River can boast of setting up the biggest Garment Factory in Africa, the Rice City Project and Calabar Monorail, while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has set up the First Pencil Factory in Nigeria, Lead Factory and Automobile Assembly Plant.

Chief Eze recalled that, “In 2015, the Lagos State Government partnered with Kebbi State to have the kebbi farmers grow the rice and sell it back to Lagos for final processing. Today, Lake Rice is the beautiful testimony of a visionary leader, adding that still in 2015, the Taraba State Government partnered with CBN to secure a loan of N2 billion for the first greenhouse project in the entire north east sub region. Today, Taraba has a brand new green house farm and the largest in Nigeria. The project was initiated with an initial capacity to produce four exotic crops- cucumber, lettuce, pepper and tomatoes but on Wike’s side, what did he achieve but to destroy all the agricultural initiatives of the Amaechi’s administration. Instead of emulating these great leaders, our noisy and unprepared Governor Wike is inviting and commissioning projects that he never executed.

He said: “It is on record that in 2015, the Kebbi state government secured a loan from the CBN for rice production. Today, Kebbi has the biggest rice mill in Africa but sadly the over 130 Billion Naira so far borrowed by Wike was wasted on sponsoring his cronies and cohorts to watch European matches and sponsoring the unfruitful activities of PDP instead of developing the State.”

Chief Eze in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt the State capital of Rivers State highlighted that some of the Roads completed by the administration of Amaechi that are been lined up for commissioning by Governor Wike are as follows: “Between 2007 and 2014 the administration of Amaechi completed 23 major bridges in different parts of the State with six other bridges at various stages of completion. The completed bridges include nine bridges on the Unity Road (Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo) Road; two Steel bridges at Eagle Island; Ndoni Steel Bridge; three bridges on the Okrika Ring Road; bridge at the Abuloma-Woji Road; Mbiama kinima Bridge; Bolo Creek bridge. The on-going bridges include Woji-Akpajobridge (70% completion); Luwa-Bere bridge (50% completion); Orashi Steel bridge (60% completion); Tema Steel bridge (40% completion) and two bridges on the Unity Road.

The administration completed two major flyovers: Agip Roundabout on Ikwerre Road and Eliozu on the East-West Road. It reconstructed the collapsed flyover on Aba Road near the Nigeria Air force Base. Another flyover at Woji has reached 85% completion level. Two interchanges were also completed at Rumuokwurusi (at the intersection between the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway and the East-West Road) the area erroneously called “Eleme Junction”; and at Obiri Ikwerre (at the intersection between Prof. Tam David-West Boulevard and East-West Road).

Chief Eze further highlighted that Amaechi’s concern for all the residents of the State is demonstrated by locating 70 percent of the roads in the rural areas with the remainder 30% are within the Greater Port Harcourt Metropolis. From the rural areas to the urban centres, no part of the State was left out in the development of good road network. The Amaechi Administration expanded and completed the Okrika Ring Road. It expanded the Mbiama-Akinima Road. It constructed the Kpopie-Bodo Road. It substantially completed the Unity Road, which traverses three local government councils – Khana, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro.

Before he left office, Governor Amaechi ensured that the people of the Ancient Opobo Kingdom could get to Opobo by road. Anxious to ensure that all parts of Rivers State were accessible by road, the Amaechi administration entered into advanced discussions with the Nigeria LNG Ltd with respect to the completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road, which was abandoned by Dr Jonathan’s adminstration. The administration also completed the Rivers State end of the Port Harcourt Owerri Road, in order to create relief for Rivers people, in the same way it attempted to reconstruct the Rivers State end of the East West road, but was refused to do so by the then Federal Government of Jonathan. To improve movement of farm goods and encourage trade and commerce, the Amaechi administration constructed a major spine road between Isiokpo and Omerelu.

The Isiokpo/Omerelu road reaffirmed the high premium the Amaechi administration placed on transportation. The criticality of some roads made them a compelling proposition for the Amaechi Administration. These included the Ada George Road (Mile III Diobu to Mgbuoba) and the Port Harcourt – Owerri Road. The Amaechi Administration constructed a dual carriage Highway from the Port International Airport Junction to the boundary between Rivers State and Imo State; the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt – Aba Expressway (from the Rumuokwurusi Interchange to the boundary with Abia State). The Administration also awarded the contract for the Trans-Kalabari Highway which construction had commenced before the end of tenure.

Within the capital city, the need to decongest the Aba Road led to the conception and construction of a Relief Road before the ever-busy Rumuola Junction to link Aba Road to Rumuomasi/Elekahia/Trans-Amadi. This Relief Road opened the area for residential development. The Old Stadium Road (renamed Ken Saro-Wiwa Road) was dualized. Similarly, the Old Aba Road up to Rumuogba (Artillery) was also dualized. Okporo Road was dualized to take traffic from Aba Road to the East-West Road.

To address access to the Industrial Area: Trans-Amadi, the Amaechi Administration dualized the Elekahia-Rumuomasi Road linking Aba Expressway. It also dualized the Oginigba – Rumuobiokani Road. It dualized Nkpogu Road, which takes traffic to and from Eastern By-Pass. Save for a disagreement between the Contractor and the Ministry of Works, the bridge that opens up the second lane of the road would have been completed before the end of term.

The administration of Amaechi conceived, awarded the contract and commenced the construction of another major spine road linking Garrison to East-West Road (Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Oginigba-Woji-Elelenwo) with an interchange at Garrison, three bridges at Waja River, Oginigba River, Woji River and underpass at Oginigba (near the Zoological Garden. The execution of the road project is phased.

The Woji section had attained a level of completion since 2014 that allows for reasonably unimpeded use by commuters. Work continued at the Trans-Amadi section before the end of the term.  Within the same Trans-Amadi axis, the Amaechi Administration conceived, awarded the contracts and substantially constructed the Abuloma-Woji Road and the Woji-Akpajo Road. The objective of this road is to take traffic to or from Eleme axis (Akwa Ibom) away from Aba Road.

The Administration also conceived, awarded the contract and commenced the reconstruction of the Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni Road; the Elioparanwo Road; the Iguruta-Eneka-Rumuokwurusi Road as dualized roads. The Administration reconstructed the Ikwerre Road from Education Bus Stop to Agip Roundabout. To provide relief to Ikwerre Road for commuters from Rukpokwu, Iguruta, International Airport, and the Administration reconstructed the G.U. Ake Road linking Aba Road to Ikwerre Road close to Rukpokwu. The Amaechi Administration also conceived and awarded the contracts for the dualization and reconstruction of the Old Aba Road (Rumuogba) – Woji Road and Oil-Mill –Elelenwo-Akpajo Road (the Old Refinery Road.)

Sadly, Governor Nyesom Wike in his bizarre acts is currently plotting to lure President Donald Trump of USA to come and commission some of these roads listed above but I know with this exposure he may decides to shelve this notorious idea” Eze finally declared.