The Rivers State Chapter of the APC has expressed its opposition to the construction of another flyover bridge in the State capital, saying that other Local Government Areas in the State deserve serious attention.
The APC said in its reaction to the request for the approval of N18 billion naira for the project by the State Government that the money could be put to better use in other sectors.
“We express our opposition to the use of a whooping sum of N18 billion on the construction of a flyover and road expansion project in Port Harcourt” the APC said in a statement
“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, we remain 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”, Spokesman of the APC, Hon Ogbonna Nwuke observed.
He said it was now clear that the party was right when it disclosed most of the projects executed by the State did not enjoy budgetary cover.
“We have persistently maintained, that some of the projects being executed by the Rivers State Government, have not been properly backed by the power of appropriation.
“In order words, 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.
“We are saddened by the fact that it took our 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”, Nwuke stressed.
He enjoined the Rivers people to prepare for a date with history, stating that it is necessary to put a halt to impunity on the part of the State Government.
“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”, the APC statement added.