Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, has said former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike outperformed his predecessors, Peter Odili and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in infrastructure and grassroots development.
Nwuche, who is Chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), stated this in a statement released in Abuja yesterday.
He said the scale and spread of infrastructure delivered across Rivers State under Wike were unprecedented, noting that more than 1,000 kilometres of roads were completed and commissioned during his administration.
According to him, the projects connected rural communities to urban centres, opened up previously inaccessible areas and stimulated local economic activities.
Nwuche cited the dualisation of the 16.06-kilometre Saakpenwa-Bori Highway through Tai, Khana and Gokana local government areas; rehabilitation of the 11.53-kilometre Eleme-Afam (Oyigbo) Road; and completion of the Nkoro-Opobo section of the Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni Unity Road, conceived during the administration of former Governor Peter Odili.
He said the completion of the road enabled residents and visitors to access the historic Opobo Kingdom by road.
Other projects, he said, included the dualisation of the Ahoada-Omoku Road with street lighting, construction of 10 flyovers in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor, and the award and flag-off of the ongoing 12.5-kilometre Trans-Kalabari Road.
Nwuche said Wike’s administration also executed projects in education, healthcare, security and other sectors.
He particularly commended the former governor for projects executed across Ekpeye Kingdom, describing them as a significant departure from the experience of previous civilian administrations since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
He listed the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road; Ahoada-Odhiemerenyi-Ihugbogo-Odhieke roads; Ahoada-Ekpena Road; Ogbo-Ihugbogo Road; Odhiemudie Road; Odioku internal roads; Obodhi-Ozochi Road and bridge across the Orashi River; Ula-Ehuda-Odhioku-Odhireke Road; remodelling of Western Ahoada County High School; Ahoada Campus of Rivers State University; Mbiama-Orkaki-Agbo Road; Odhioku Primary Health Care Centre; Ahoada Regional Hospital; and Odido Road and bridge.
According to Nwuche, the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road was initially awarded under Amaechi but was abandoned before it was completed and commissioned in February 2018 under Wike.
He recalled that the road was commissioned by the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, whom he served as Deputy Speaker during the Fourth National Assembly.
Nwuche said the people of Ekpeye had, before the Wike administration, largely been remembered for their votes during elections and neglected afterwards.
He challenged anyone with a contrary view to identify significant projects executed across Ekpeye between 1999 and 2015.
The former Deputy Speaker said grassroots people could identify leaders whose records demonstrated commitment to their welfare and development.
He said, ‘I will personally go round every Ekpeye village during the coming campaigns to ensure 100 per cent support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, including our gubernatorial candidate, O. K. Chinda.’
Nwuche, who described himself as a grassroots politician, said he had remained close to his people and understood their needs.
He said, ‘I regularly visited the village to commune and interact with my people, attend village town hall meetings, and participate in local festivities.
‘I love my people, and I know them. We will only follow those who have used power to do God’s work on earth by catering to the welfare of the masses to enhance their well-being, and not those who don’t know what to do with power except to aggrandise themselves, impoverish and oppress perceived enemies and the masses, or sow discord and communal crises that result in loss of lives.’
Nwuche also urged local government chairmen in Rivers State to emulate Wike’s record of grassroots leadership.
He recalled that Wike had executed several projects as Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area before becoming governor and later Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
He specifically urged the Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Hon. Solomon Abuba Ochoma, to fulfil promises made to the people of Ochigba and prioritise social services and security.
Nwuche said improved welfare and support for security agencies would help tackle criminality, cultism and other crimes, while creating a safer environment for businesses, investment and employment.
He also commended Ochoma for choosing an indigene of Ochigba, Hon. Mrs. Florence Odukwu, as his deputy, described her as a strong pillar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada East.
The SSDC board chairman further called on the people of Ekpeye and Rivers State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Rainbow Coalition led by Wike.
He also urged support for the APC governorship candidate, Hon. O. K. Chinda, and other candidates of the coalition, which he said was committed to further development of the state.
Nwuche said he would speak further on the history of Rivers politics and its impact on the state’s development to educate younger generations who did not witness the political turbulence of the past.
He urged Rivers people to remain vigilant and assess the records of individuals seeking elective offices at both state and national levels.