Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says the infrastructure projects delivered by his administration will give the All Progressives Congress (APC) a significant electoral edge, providing its candidates with concrete achievements to present to voters during the forthcoming campaigns. Fubara said APC candidates would be able to point to the projects when seeking votes from residents, […]
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says the infrastructure projects delivered by his administration will give the All Progressives Congress (APC) a significant electoral edge, providing its candidates with concrete achievements to present to voters during the forthcoming campaigns.
Fubara said APC candidates would be able to point to the projects when seeking votes from residents, particularly in communities where the administration’s infrastructure interventions have directly improved transportation and connectivity.
The governor spoke on Wednesday during the commissioning of the 14.5-kilometre Agba-Ndele Road and a 239.4-metre bridge connecting communities in Emohua and Abua/Odual Local Government Areas.
According to him, the projects would give APC candidates tangible achievements to present to voters during their campaigns and could make it easier for the party to secure support in the affected areas.
Fubara said the projects would enable candidates to tell residents that the APC administration had delivered infrastructure capable of addressing some of the challenges confronting them.
He explained that the road and bridge were designed to extend development to rural communities and provide relief to residents who had struggled with the poor condition of the old Abua Road.
The governor said commuters previously spent long hours travelling along the route because of its condition, adding that the new infrastructure would significantly reduce the difficulties faced by residents.
Fubara maintained that his administration’s focus was on projects that could deliver genuine value to the people rather than simply accumulating projects for political recognition.
“I’m not interested in just doing anything; I’m interested in doing something that can add value and change the life of our people,” he said.
He described the newly commissioned project as a major intervention that had come at the right time for communities that had endured difficulties using the old route.
Fubara also acknowledged that the bridge was initiated by a previous administration, but said completing projects that would benefit the public should take precedence over questions about who started them.
He compared governance to a relay race, stressing that every administration should be prepared to continue useful projects inherited from its predecessors.
“When you see something that will benefit the people, it doesn’t matter who started it. What is important is you complete it and put it to use,” he said.
The governor charged the chairmen of Emohua and Abua/Odual LGAs, Chidi Lloyd and Owolobi Michael Ofori, with protecting the newly delivered infrastructure from damage.
He also called on community leaders, youths, traditional rulers and residents to prevent vandalism and safeguard the road and bridge.
The Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, said the road was 14.5 kilometres long, with a 10.3-metre binder-course width, a 7.3-metre wearing-course width and three-metre shoulders.
Nwofor said the bridge measured 239.4 metres and was 10.3 metres wide, with 1.5-metre walkways on both sides, while a 1.2-kilometre access road was also constructed as part of the project.