Obasanjo Hails Rivers Monorail, Fish Farm Projects …Explains Stance On ‘K -Leg’ Saga

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo gave a tacit endorsement of the Rivers Monorail project after briefly inspecting the site yesterday in Port Harcourt.
Chief Obasanjo, who spoke to newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport,Omagwa  as he ended his two-day visit and commissioning of projects executed by Governor Chibuike Amaechi administration, said many people would not appreciate the worth of the monorail now until it was completed.
The ex-president noted that the project was a landmark and reference point. Considering the improved power provision status of the state, he held that, “the only state that can do that now with the visible power that they have is Rivers State because they generate well over 700 megawatts of electricity with what I commissioned yesterday.
The former president said that only Rivers State has the capacity to operate a mono rail project, stressing that with the state generating about 700megawatts of electricity, 200megawatts can be allocated to the monorail project.
Asked of his assessment of the administration, Obasanjo opined that so far he was satisfied with what he had seen but was of the view that most of the project need to be sustained after the exit of the governor.
He had on Monday after unveiling the Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School at Eleme said, “I am really proud over the infrastructure and particularly road network’’.
Obasanjo also said of Amaechi projects, “I am here to see development and acknowledge development, and so far I have seen indeed”.
He observed that the new model secondary schools could be compared to any educational facility anywhere in the world, adding that the best foundation for leaders of tomorrow was to give them a solid education.
At the Rivers Songhai farm project, the former president described the project as first of its kind in the country, noting that for the project to be sustained, the Rivers State Government must fashion agriculture in a way that it will add value to the system.
According to him, the governor must create access to the market, ensure that trainees remain on the farm as well as acquire more land for expansion.
The former president also harvested bunch of banana at the banana farm project in Khana Local Government Area before moving to commission the multi-billion naira Afam power project.
Commissioning the Buguma Fish farm yesterday before his departure, Chief Obasanjo lauded Governor Amaechi for the project but advocated a processing and preservation facility at the farm to ensure constant fish supply all year round.
Later on, Governor Amaechi said the farm was built to generate employment and create wealth.
The governor revealed that the fish farm would close the shortfall in the nation’s fish demand as it would produce about 1.8 million tons of fish yearly.
Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Ojukaye Flagg-Amachree explained that the project symbolizes the occupation of the people and would add value to them, since a lot of the indigenes would be trained in modern fishing methods.
However, Obasanjo has admitting that he played a role in scuttling the governorship ambition of Chibuike Amaechi in 2007, but quickly added that the Supreme Court has addressed the matter and indirectly straightened the ‘k-leg’ controversy.
Speaking at the Ambassador Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School, Eleme, as part of two-day visit to the state, Obasanjo observed that apart from addressing the matter, Governor Amaechi has equally contested election and won with a landslide.
He said such feat should have cleared any controversy that may have arisen from the ‘K-leg’ matter which he had coined to stop Amaechi from contesting the elections at that time.
Obasanjo said he had felt ‘awkward’ when he heard of the Supreme Court judgement, which ordered that Amaechi be sworn-in as governor even without contesting elections, but commended him for his courage and for seeking legal redress.
With the victory of the governor at the Supreme Court, the former president affirmed that the matter was over.
Obasanjo, however, urged the governor to throw the past behind him, saying, “There must be something you must learn from me. I am older and more experienced and if experience goes with wisdom, then I am wiser.’’
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chubuike Amaechi as visionary leader who understands the needs of his people.
The former president, who made this declaration yesterday at the commissioning of the Buguma Fish Farm in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area, said that in every nation, there are persons who understand what the people want, adding that that is transformational leadership.
He said that as a former president and a farmer, he has seen development projects in Rivers State, and advised the state governor to think of ways of consolidating on the various projects across the state.
Obasanjo charged Governor Amaechi to continue with his good works for the people of the state despite the antics of the opposition.
Answering question from newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport before departure, Obasanjo said that good things always attract reactions from the public.
The former president commissioned some projects which include the dualized Chief G. U. Ake Road, dualized Okporo Road, Elekahia-Rumuomasi Road, Ken Saro-Wiwa Road, Model Primary Health Centre Akpajo, Ambassador Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School, Eleme, the Songhai Farm at Bunu Tai, Afam Power Station and Model Primary School Ban-Ogoi, Tai.
Other projects commissioned were the mini football pitch at Niger Street/Bendel Streets, Basketball pitch, volley ball court, St Andrew’s primary school, mile One Diobu and Professor Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Emenike Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (4th left), Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (5th left), his Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru (2nd left), Executive Director, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Noble Pepple (left) and Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King G.N.K. Gininwa at the commissioning of Rivers Songhai Farm, Bunu-Tai, last Monday

John Bibor