RSG Faults Rivers APC’s Poor Rating Of Fubara’s Govt

The Rivers State Government has faulted the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) low rating of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s achievements in office in the last one year.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, described the claim by the main opposition party in the State as unfortunate.
The chairman of APC Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, had at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, rated Fubara’s administration low in performance and described the Governor’s assertion that he began the real governance of the State four months ago as a contradiction, wondering if he executed the projects he unveiled to mark his first one-year anniversary in office in only four months. He stated that the projects were awarded by the previous administration.
But in a swift reaction, the State Government’s spokesman, Joseph Johnson, described the claim by the opposition party as unfortunate.
Johnson said, “It is quite unfortunate that Chief Tony Okocha is still living in the past. The first project we inaugurated, the Eteo-Ebubu, the old Bori Road inaugurated by the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti; we awarded the contract for that project on August 14, 2023 and it was to be completed in eight months. It has been delivered.
“The Andoni section of the Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road was awarded by the Siminalayi Fubara administration and inaugurated. Today we can drive to Ngo Town in Andoni.
“The Trans-Kalabari Road, which is the heaviest, was awarded for the sum of N225bn. It was flagged off by His Excellency the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. And that is the main Trans-Kalabari Road. That project will be completed in 32 months and we have already paid 30 per cent of the value.”
The commissioner said Fubara had completed most of the projects flagged off by his predecessor, Wike, saying “Some were awarded in the months that he (Wike) was leaving and zero kobo was paid.
“The one I’m talking about is the construction of Rumueprikom internal roads and drains Phase 2, Plot 1, which is the hometown of the former governor. He awarded that project on the 13th of March to be completed in four months.
“He (Wike) didn’t pay a kobo. We have paid 91 per cent of the contract value and we are at 95 per cent completion. The cost is N2.2bn.”
On the allegations of N150 million deployed for thanksgiving in the 23 LGAs of the state, Johnson said none of the thanksgiving was at the behest of the state government.
“The one we held in St Paul’s Anglican Church, Garrison in Port Harcourt was the only one done in commemoration of our one year in office. We did not have any hand in any of the thanksgiving held anywhere,” he said.

Boye Salau