Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed desperate and spirited efforts by detractors to sabotage his administration at every point in its determination to deliver good governance and quality services to Rivers people.
This is as the Governor has clarified that the present administration will not go into the completion of the monorail project initiated by the Chibuike Amaechi-led government, except a serious private sector investor decides to commit resources to the project under a well-defined private public partnership arrangement.
Governor Fubara emphasised that he would want to be remembered by not just the signature road projects with legacy bridges and flyovers, but sustainable impact human capital and manpower development and as well as other critical infrastructure landmarks to bridge the healthcare and education gaps in the State.
The State Chief Executive Officer said these while addressing officers of the Standing Committee and members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors led by the NGE President, Eze Anaba, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.
Also on the delegation were chief executive officers, heads of stations, editors, heads and managers of news of other media outfits located in the Rivers State capital, as well as leaders of the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists and Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Rivers State Independent Publishers’ Association (RIVPA).
The Governor said: “Monorail? Great project that was initiated by that administration. But I think they didn’t do proper studies before venturing into it.
“The cost of that project would have been cheaper if the rail was laid flat along plane land along normal road instead of hanging it on cast pillars.
“I don’t hold anything against him. But if it is something we can do, definitely we will do it. But I tell you, we cannot go in that kind of thing now.
“If we have anybody who is willing to come and put money because we are making Rivers investment-friendly, it will be fine. We will definitely welcome the idea and support such investor but not too much.”
The Governor explained that detractors were desperately attempting to frustrate and embarrass the State Government’s dogged efforts to provide the dividends of democracy to the people on whose mandate it was striving to legitimately and constitutionally serve the interest of the State.
Governor Fubara listed attempts to scuttle the process of governance in the State, including the clandestine calls to some key speakers and prominent personalities invited to participate at the just-concluded Rivers Economic and Investment Summit not to associate with his administration, or participate in the programme designed to reposition the State for robust investments and progressive economic rejuvenation.
He said that it took the courage of some the speakers and invited guests to honour the government and participate fully in the programme.
He also drew the editors’ attention to efforts to frustrate the revival and completion of the Port Harcourt International Automobile Spare Parts Trading and Commercial Centre just flagged-off at Iriebe in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area about a month ago by cajoling the previous contractors who had abandoned the project due to lack of support to sue the State Government to court, to derail the project.
He noted that this was after his administration had settled and paid off the initial contractors engaged by the previous administration on the project, adding that because of the reputation and integrity of the contractors, they declined to follow the path of dishonour and sabotage of the greater good and interest of the State.
“The previous administration already had an arrangement that started even before that time. We came in, took up this project, called the partners who could not continue because their investors were Russians and when the crisis started they couldn’t come in their funds again.
“But because they have committed money there, we invited the investor to come, we discussed and agreed, paid off the old investor.
“Then we called a new investor to come and take over the project. The new investor started but you won’t believe that people who don’t want us to succeed even had to go and call the former investor, asked him to take us to court.
“But thank God for those of us who still have fear and respect for God because the investor told them, why am I taking them to court, for what? The government called us, we sat, we discussed and we were paid off. What justification do I have. How can I even look at the the head of government?”
Governor Fubara also highlighted the challenges faced by the government on the construction of the 20,000 housing units in Mgbodo-Aluu axis of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development area in Ikwerre Local Government, saying that the investors in the project have faced litigations from land grabbers sponsored by opposition elements targeting to scuttle the government.
He explained that the massive lands duly acquired and paid for by the Chibuike Amaechi-led administration at the area have been deliberately encroached on by sponsored land grabbers who had emerged to claim ownership of the lands and have already instituted no fewer than 52 litigations against the government for lands the government had paid for many years ago.
“We have got over 52 litigations, people coming to claim that the land belong to them. That is to tell you the level of sabotage that this government is facing.
“When I tell you that I don’t like to talk, I have a reason. But it has to get to a point where you tell the world that this is what it is.”
Governor Fubara emphasized that despite the many deliberate sabotage efforts and political crisis engineered by his detractors, his administration has remained focused on the ball, and has consciously recorded significant successes within its one year in office but four months of full control of governance of the State.
He restated the “Rivers People First” mantra of his administration, saying that he expend Rivers money to deliver quality services and good governance to Rivers people, and not one individual or group of few desperate politicians angling to satisfy their selfish desires and ambitions.
He said, “We are a government legitimately and constitutionally constituted in the State. It is our duty to carry out the function and act of governance properly. But somehow, we have some issues which I won’t want to dwell on.
“Like I said, we have to move on, and moving on is where we are today. By the special grace of God, we have recorded successes. We might not have gotten it the way it would have been, if everything was fine. It takes a government that is courageous to do what we have done,” given our circumstances.
He noted that at the inception of his administration a year ago, strategies were put in place to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State, adding that good money was saved which is being committed to landmark projects that are now ongoing in the State.
The Governor explained that his administration decided to execute key signature projects that had been avoided by previous administrations because their impact would add significant value to the lives of the people and spike the revenue profile of the State to enable it bounce back as a buoyant economic hub and compete favourably with Lagos, including deepening its potential in the blue economy.
He listed such ‘trunk A’ projects as the expansive 50:51km Port Harcourt Ring Road project, traversing six local government areas of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, Elele, and Okrika, with a river crossing, six flyovers, over 12 roundabouts and interchanges; the 12km original Trans-Kalabari Road, connecting Port Harcourt City to the three Kalabari local governments of Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, and Degema, with many bridges; as well as the 33.5km Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, with many bridges also
The Governor said that out of the whopping sum of N195billion total cost, excluding compensation, 77 percent of the sum amounting to N147billion has been paid to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc handling the Port Harcourt Ring Road, with significant work already done from six sections of the projects.
He also noted that the Trans-Kalabari Road project, which was flagged-off by former President Goodluck Jonathan on May 20, would cost a total of N225.1billion, out of which 30 percent, amounting to N67billion has been paid upfront to facilitate mobilization and fast-track construction work in the difficult deltaic terrain.
The Governor further stated that the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road project would cost the government a staggering N80.8billion, out of which N40.4billion, representing 50 percent of the contract sum has been paid, adding that the government decided to award contract for the road to save lives of people from that axis of the State from criminal gangs, open up the area to increase business activities and connectivity while facilitating communication of the people through land routes to Imo State.
Governor Fubara stressed that apart from the Port Harcourt Ring Road, which was being funded from loan facility, the three key projects of Trans-Kalabari Road, Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road, and the Okania-Ogbogoro Road, also costing over N6billion, were being funded with savings accruing from IGR and federation accounts allocations over the last one year.
Governor Fubara said, “First, we; this administration is the one that commenced the Port Harcourt Ring Road project at the cost of N195billion, excluding compensation and we have paid 77 percent of that money, which is about N147billion.
“We have also done something for the people of this State. I hear people saying Trans-Kalabari Road phase one or phase two. There is nothing like a first phase.
“What we had in the State was building a bridge that connects Degema to Krakrama communities, and for you to access that place, you will still need to go into the heart of Kalabari land to ply that road.”
Governor Fubara explained that the original Trans-Kalabari Road project his administration has awarded will enable movement directly into Port Harcourt City.
“This will not take you from Elele, going that far as if you are going to Mbiama, no, no. Here, you’ll just drive into the heart of Port Harcourt City. That is the one we just awarded. That project would cost the State Government N225billion.
“So far, we have already paid 50 percent of it (N67billion) down payment as our commitment. I believe that you also heard it or watched it on the television where we invited our father, the former president Goodluck Jonathan to come and flag it off for us.
“Let me talk you something about the Trans-Kalabari Road project. By the special grace of God, because we have already started it.”
Governor Fubara said further: “By the time we deliver that road, development enters there, issues of crime will reduce. Issues of boat mishaps will be off, the menace of sea piracy will disappear.
“It is true that some people will still be using the old channels but it will help to bring the economy of he state to a certain level. Connectivity is the in-word now.
“So, we are also dualising that road, the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road. That particular road will cost the State Government about N80billion. For that one, we have also commenced work, awarded it to a contractor and paid 50 percent.
“So, I have been saving. Maybe, that’s why they term me as a bad person. But at the end of the day, what counts is the projects that have been delivered, projects that will change the life of Rivers people. Projects that will change the face and the economic status of the State.”
The Governor added that over 34 projects inherited from the immediate past administration had been completed, while others were being expedited for completion, adding that his administration would turn around infrastructure in the healthcare and education sectors in the next six months.
He lamented the dearth of secondary healthcare facilities as well as decent education development infrastructure across the local governments, and assured that in no distant time, his government would transform both sectors for the good of the people of the State in line with its policy thrust of the People First.
Governor Fubara said the situation was pathetic because there was virtually no intermediary health facilities in the State that he met and poorly operated primarily healthcare delivery system.
“Forget about what you read and what you see on issues of hospitals in Rivers State, maybe about the Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Center and, Mother and Child Hospital.
“When we came in, the only functional health centres were the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Choba the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in old GRA that belongs to the Rivers State University.
“By the special grace of God, we are able to at least, improve the status of about 36 of primary healthcare facilities. So, we already had a target of making sure that in the next one month or so, there will be intense activity to improve the services at the intermediary health facilities.”
Governor Fubara talked about the report submitted to him by a group called New Global that had approached his administration to allow it invest $5million in developing capacity of teachers.
“We said ok, go and assess our schools. After the assessment, do you know that they told us? You’re below benchmark.
Sir Fubara, however stated: “We want to go beyond building bridges alone. I won’t limit my legacy to only Trans-Kalabari Road project, Port Harcourt Ring Road project, and other roads projects, no. I want to develop human capacity.”
In his remarks, Presudent of the NGE, Mr Eze Anaba, informed the Governor that the Standing Committee members were in the State to attend a statutory meeting of the executive body, and thanked the administration for providing the enabling environment for a hitch-free interactive session.
In her vote of thanks, the Deputy President of the NGE, Husseina Bangshika, commended Governor Fubara for anchoring his administration on the path of peace, infrastructure and human capacity development, adding that his commitment to meeting the needs of Rivers people first was the hallmark of genuine leadership and good governance.
The NGE deputy president noted the landmark projects being undertaken by the administration, despite the many sabotage attempts and politically-induced crisis by self-seeking politicians, and urged Governor Fubara remain focused, and continue to pursue the path of peace, reconciliation and sustainable development of the State.
She also tasked critics and opposition politicians and well-meaning Rivers people to rally round the Governor to move the State to the next level, so as to renew the hopes of Rivers people, and indeed, Nigerians in a great future ahead, saying that it is only in an atmosphere of peace and mutual concord that development can take place and the people can enjoy the fruits of their labour.