…Vows to talk at appropriate time
From Maureen Dick, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed that payments for most of the projects commissioned by the previous administration were not completed.
The governor made the disclosure when he spoke at the commissioning of Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East-West Road, in Eleme, Rivers State, performed by the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Tuesday, to commemorate his one year as governor.
Fubara lamented that his administration was burdened with debts from the previous government, stating that debts owed the contractors, whose jobs were commissioned were in millions and billions (of Naira).
The Rivers State governor said he has restrained himself from talking because he was part of that government, stressing that he would talk at appropriate time having being pushed to the wall.
He said: “My story as a person will not be complete if Eleme is not mentioned. That is the truth. Maybe if I didn’t start in Eleme, I would not get to Level 14.
“I am happy to be here and to join the good people of Rivers State to start this wonderful celebration of our anniversary in the face of all our trouble. It shows that we are focused not minding the level of distractions.
“Let me correct the mistake the contractor made. This road is not when completed, it has been completed.
“And for the record, it was awarded to CCECC as the contractor, on the 14th of August, 2023. I also went further because as we are going now from here, we are going with a white paper to show record of the amount this project was awarded.
“This project was awarded at the cost of N6.7billion. And I can say boldly that no kobo is remaining. We paid the contractor completely.
“The purpose of this is let the world know that if there is no problem this government has, it’s debt. Most of the projects that were being commissioned, they (contractors) are coming for their balance payment. And it is running in millions and billions.
“I have said that I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to talk because I was part of that system. But, when you keep pushing me to talk, I will say it so that you see the buttocks of the fowl. Let us leave that until when we are ready.
“The small one we are doing they are not sleeping. I wonder what they would do when we do the big one.”
The governor, however, acknowledged some individuals he described as “true leaders” at the event, saying they were the type of leaders that are bold to tell the truth about leadership in Rivers State.
He assured the Eleme people that the state government shared in their challenges and would bring dividends of good governance to the citizens of the state.
Speaking at the commissioning, Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, said leadership is about service.
He commended the Rivers State governor for the honour and invitation to inaugurate the road, noting several ongoing road projects the government is executing in the state .
Governor Otti urged Rivers people to continue to support the Siminalayi Fubara-led administration, declaring that nobody could arrogate himself the power of God.
“I want to thank the governor fro remembering this community. I want to thank for remembering where he came from. It is very easy not to remember. But, he remembered.
“I want to congratulate the governor for the great job he is doing in Rivers State. I have always said it that leadership is service. And service should be service to the people. And not service to a very few interest. I can assure River people that the dividends of democracy you are seeing now is race rehearsal. It is still early morning.
“I charge Eleme people and people of Rivers State to continue to support their governor. Power belongs to God. No human being can arrogate to himself the capacity to give power. Except you have the capacity to give life. Of course, you can take life, but, you cannot give it.”
Ends.