By Mordi chukwunonso Esther
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Rivers state governor has said that the federal government has been playing politics with the cleanup and remediation of Ogoni environment, recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP.
The governor stated this during the commissioning of the 16.06 kilometers dual carriage Saakpenwa-Bori Road, inaugurated by the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, noting that Ogoni, having played huge role in the economic development of Rivers state and the country, deserves more than what is currently being offered to the area.
The governor urged the people of Ogoni to stop believing those who use Ogoni clean up exercise at the turn of election year to deceive them, and wondered why clean-up never happens when elections are over.
“I am not like Federal Government. They promised you they will do Ogoni clean up. Has it been cleaned? I promised you road, have I done it? So you can see the difference between our party and their own party. The difference is clear.
“When election comes in 2023, they will start another clean up. You people don’t even ask question. Why is it a year to election that Ogoni clean up will always commence? Now that there is no election are they doing clean up now? Watch from next year they will start clean up.”
The governor challenged those who feel uncomfortable with his public declarations to also showcase their projects and invite persons of repute to commission them as he has done since December.
Governor Wike also announced the commencement of the phase two of the newly commissioned road, which will now be from Bori to Kono and it will be awarded to the same construction firm, CCECC.
“Let me tell you, I will dualise from here, Bori to Kono. It will be handled by the same contractor to maintain the same standard.
“So, when I finish and go, I will tell Ogoni people that it was in my tenure that you got road; dualised road, from Saakpenwa to Kono with street lights.”
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, acknowledged that many projects have been inaugurated by Governor Wike, including the Saakpenwa -Bori road which was a campaign promise that has been fulfilled.
“I understand that this strategic road project was a campaign promise that has been truthfully fulfilled. Expectedly, it gladdens the hearts of Ogoni people and reinforces their faith in our constitutional democracy.”
Also, former President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Ledum Mitee said several governors used the road as point of political campaigns, but all failed to fulfil such promises.
Mitee said if the money wasted on the abandoned monorail by the immediate past administration was properly channelled, more flyovers and roads would have been achieved in the State.
