Rivers APC rejects N18 Billion loan for Flyover and road expansion instead of Cottage industries

*Use money to create jobs for the unemployed Rivers youths so the state can get out of its mere consumer status

BY IBRAHIM BAKARE

All Progressives Congress,APC, in Rivers State has rejected   the approval by the House Assembly  for Governor Nyesom Wike to secure an N18 billion loan for the expansion of roads as Flyover project in the state capital as a misplacement of priorities.

APC in a press statement signed by its Spokeman, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the party is opposed to the use of a whooping sum of N18 billion on the construction of a flyover and road expansion project in Port Harcourt instead of building cottage industries that could employ unemployed youths move from consumer state to a producer goods and services.. 

The party pointed out that kind of money can be used judiciously in developing cottage industries and creating jobs, which would engage our youths and strengthen the economy. Roads leading to most of our Local Government Areas have completely packed up. They require to be fixed in order to end the misery of the people.

“To date, the state remains a consumer State instead of a producer State, which depends solely on federal allocations.  Government should fulfill its promise to embark on agriculture. Our people cannot continue to watch while their contemporaries elsewhere are motivated by their state governments to engage in productive activities.”

 APC further pointed out that for Governor Wike to seek approval from the State Lawmakers to secure loan for projects in the state confirms its bearlier fear that some of the projects being executed by the Rivers State Government, have not been properly backed by the power of appropriation.

The party said “In order words, that some of the policies and programmes on which scarce funds belonging to taxpayers have been spent by Governor Nyesom Wike and his administration, were never part of the budget. 

According to Nwuke the party  is saddened by the fact that it took it’s intervention for leaders, who have failed to comply with international best practices put in place for purposes of  ensuring accountability, probity and transparency, to contemplate doing so. 

APC said the rights of Rivers people as the owners of this State must be  protected as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. And as a political party, the APC is acutely aware of its historic mission, which to wit, includes the defense of the rights, freedoms and privileges of the people and their democratic institutions.

The APC said what played out at the Rivers House of Assembly is proof of the fact that it is committed to the protection of the power of the people. It is a confirmation of what it has always known that the actions of the Rivers State have not been consistent, most of the time, with the provisions of our laws.

“We have insisted that what is transpiring in Rivers State amounts to a rape on democracy. We have maintained the  views of the people, or their representatives, must be sought.  Government cannot act as if it has the power to do anything, including the power which allows it to appropriate the power of appropriation which belongs to the State House of Assembly.

“Once again, we urge the Rivers people to gird their loins. The fight ahead is greater. It is the fight against impunity, abuse of office or misuse of power. It is a fight to protect democratic tenets and the struggle to ensure that the people remain the centre piece of our democracy. 

“Now that Government has decided to start on a clean note, we believe it owes a duty to apologise to the Rivers people, especially for consistently acting in breach of canons, which preach inclusion and participation, respect for democratic processes and the rule of law as well as regular engagement between it and the people.

Governor Wike had in his letter  to the State House of Assembly said the loan, which will be fully repaid before the end of his tenure in 2023 will be serviced by the internally generated revenue of the state.

Governor Wike explained that the loan will accelerate development in the State, take care of the construction of the fourth flyover at GRA junction, dualization of the Mummy B to Stadium road, dualization of Tombia to Ikwerre road and payment of ancil facilities and properties to be destroyed in course of the projects.