*Governance is to make people happy–Wike
Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has asserted that the whole essence of governance is to make the people happy and to make sure that their economic activities thrive.
In a signed press statement by Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant on Media to Governor Wike said he made the assertion while inaugurating the 14 Km Yaikyo-Tse Poor- Terwase Agbadu road, renamed Ayum Num Road and the extension of rural electrification projects within Ugondu community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday.
The Rivers State governor noted that with the additional 14 kilometers of road in Benue State that is considered as the food basket of the nation, the people can find it easier to move their agrarian produce to where the market is located.
“Benue is the food basket, it is an agrarian State, and if when you produce, you don’t have roads to take your produces to the city, it makes no sense.
“But with this 14 kilometers of road and rural electrification, you (Ortom) have made life simple for the people of this part of the area and that is what good governance is about.”
Governor Wike commended his Benue State counterpart for committing to the tenets of good governance and providing dividends of democracy to his people.
“And so, Dr. Ortom, we want to say we are very proud of you that you have not abandon your people to whom you made promises. And to this, we want to say it is promise made, promise fulfilled.
“I am sure, your wife will be happy that you did not disappoint her. We are also happy that you did not disappoint us. So, we are glad that just today, five major projects are to be commissioned. It is not easy. I want to tell you, do not relent. Continue until 29th of May, 2023.”
In his speech, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said his administration has been prudent as it deploys scarce resources of the State judiciously to improve the living conditions of the people.
He mocked those who had said no development project can be provided for the people because of the extent of insecurity visited on the State by bandits.
Governor Ortom said the roads and the rural electrification projects will add value to the life of the people in the benefiting communities.
On his part, the governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu inaugurated the 7.7 Kilometers Tse Poor-Apir Poor road, renamed Chief Sule Abigah Road and the Extension of Electricity Project,
Dr. Ikpeazu asserted that the road and the electricity projects will enable the people of the benefitting communities to advance their economic activities with ease.
Also, governor Ífeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State inaugurated the 2.0 kilometres NKST Yina-George Akume Way, renamed Chief J. A. O. Waku Road.
Governor Ugwuanyi described governor Samuel Ortom as a gift to Benue State for his commitment to improving the value of life of the Benue people.
The former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswan inaugurated the 2.1 kilometers Kanga-Akaya-Lucy-Aluor-Otukpo Road, renamed to Nyesom Wike Road.
Senator Suswan who performed the inauguration on behalf of governor Ortom of Benue State said governor Wike is a great Nigerian and a bosom friend of Benue State.
He noted that there is no better way to reciprocate friendship other than naming the road after governor Wike.
Senator Suswan commended governor Ortom for judiciously applying the scarce resources of the State prudently for the development of the State.
On his part, the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde inaugurated the 1.3 kilometres Federal Low Cost Housing Estate-Bambam community road, renamed to J. C. Obende Road, and noted that anywhere road goes, development follows.