Spotlight on Andoni LGA: How Fubara Broke A 24-Year Development Jinx

By Ogbonna Nwuke

Geographical Location: 

Andoni, one of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State is bounded to the north by Khana Local Government, Opobo/Nkoro to the east, Bonny to the west and the Atlantic ocean to the south.

The Obolos as they are known occupy the longest stretch of the Cross River Basin in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region which has huge oil and gas deposits. Facts indicate that such oil and gas deposits are the largest in the Gulf of Guinea.

With a population of over  311,500 people, according to figures obtained from the last census exercise conducted in Nigeria, the Andoni people who have their headquarters at Ngo Town occupy an area of over 233 km².

The Obolo people are a multi-ethnic group found in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states. They are equally found in Ido and Ohafia. Primarily, they are of Ijaw stock and are predominantly fishermen. Oyorokoto, an Obolo settlement is perhaps one of the largest fish markets on the black continent.

Yearnings And Aspirations:

Cut off from the rest of the State by rivers and rivulets, the Obolo people are blessed with bountiful natural resources, wildlife such as elephants and white sandy beaches which, if harnessed, could help in many ways to promote tourism.

Over the years, they have prayed for a time when they would become part of a changing developmental landscape in a State that is fondly described as the Treasure Base of the Nation.

As a result of difficulties arising from the nature of the Andoni environment, health and educational infrastructure within the area are poorly developed.

Kenneth Kaunda wrote that while the rest of the world is looking for how to get to the moon, the African people are struggling to reach their villages.

The tale of Andoni is the tale of Africa, a tale of a hardworking and enterprising people faced with underdeveloped of the worst kind. It is a tale of opportunities denied in the midst of plenty.

Despite what could be seen as the neglect of the area by previous state governments; the challenge posed by nature; and the impact that those challenges have had on the provision of infrastructure; the faith of the Obolo in the geographical expression called Rivers State has remained largely unshaken.

Coming Of The Unity Road:

So when the idea of the Unity Road linking the Ogoni nation to Andoni and Opobo was conceived, they thought their moment had come.

For 24 years, the Andonis waited, their fate hanging in the balance, as politics rather than expediency and their welfare took centrestage.

On Saturday, almost a year in office after the arrival of the Siminalayi Fubara administration which was sworn in on May 29, 2023, the Andoni people have been connected at last to the rest of the State by road.

As a result of the doggedness of a young administration confronted by a fierce fight that is being waged by its opponents, vehicles, a rare sight to behold in Andoni territory, can now convey villagers, goods and services to villages which had hoped for change to occur in their land.

Accordingly, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has become the first to break the project delivery jinx in Obololand.

No project has been commissioned on Andoni soil by any government in Rivers State in the last 24 years, Awaji-Inomnek Abiante, member representing the people of Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro in the National Assembly said on Saturday.

Abiante who said the road is less than 30Km long regretted that it took three different contractors namely, Rivigo Construction Company; RAFFOUL Nigeria Limited; and eventually Monier Construction Company (MCC) to deliver the project.

He hinted while speaking at the occasion that it was the first time, since the advent of the present democratic dispensation that Andoni people would gather for the inauguration of a completed development project within Obolo land.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for making it happen, and remarked that more critical infrastructure would be needed in the area to place the people in good position to be part of activities in the blue economy sector.

Politics Of Andoni Road Now Over:

 

Fubara declared that he was not in Andoni to play any kind of politics with the road that he had come to deliver to the people.

It was perhaps, a reference to what has transpired in the last two decades over the construction of the road.

“I know that if it is this road, we are already done with the road. The politicking of the road is already done. I don’t want to politick on this road anymore”

“But, I just want to say this: what is important today is the section of the Unity Road that connects Andoni to Ogoni and Opobo/Nkoro has come to reality. That is the important thing.”

The Governor however recalled that he had made promises on the campaign trail in Andoni and other parts of the Rivers State.

“I remember when we came for campaign, we did promise our people that when you support us, we are going to give you the internal roads”, Fubara remarked, “by the special grace of God, the Andonis gave us their support, and the election was won.

“So, let me use this opportunity to thank you, first for that support. Thank you, that even after the election, you have continued to support the government, not minding the situation that we find ourselves.”

The Governor paid glowing tribute to the various administrations that worked on the development of the Unity Road which came on stream after the Ogoni-Andoni war.

“We have to thank first, the initiator, Dr Peter Odili. We have to thank other successive governments which also contributed before we finally made this day to be.

“It is important we set this record straight. The Permanent Secretary has mentioned the cost of the job and the review cost. The beauty of it is that we are not owing any dime on this particular project”, Fubara stressed.

Putting The People First: 

 

Governor Fubara reiterated at Andoni that putting the Rivers people first would remain the cornerstone of his administration.

“We are happy that it is happening in our own time”, Fubara said at Ngo, ”  Our motto remains: ‘The People First’.”

The Governor further asserted,  “anything that has to do with the people, we must take it very seriously.

“I want to say here that we need to develop our own, and if we have to do it, we have to do it ourselves.

“So, I promise my people that we are going to do more jobs, more connecting roads for the Andonis by the special grace of God.”

Governor Fubara emphasised that he would  not renege on the promise of internal roads that he made to Andoni people during the electioneering period.

He directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, to liaise with Monier Construction Company (MCC) to do scoping for the commencement of the reconstruction of Ngo internal roads and a new contract for extension of the road to Oyorokoto Town.

Andoni’s Many Blessings:

 

Although Andoni which has produced capable manpower and contributed to the development of the State has seldom benefitted in terms of physical development, there appears to be a ray of hope in the horizon.

From the look of things, the Rivers Governor is not talking about the provision of roads alone. He is talking about erosion control and the provision of health and educational facilities as his administration settles down.

“I am also aware that we have  issues in the other communities in Andoni. Some of them are flooding issues, which is even the more critical issue”, Fubara said while discussing Andoni’s many problems.

“I know of a place called Oronija. They are having very serious erosion and flood issues.

“We are going to do something about it. It is my promise”, the Governor emphatically stated.

This may mean that the Andonis under the Fubara era, would become beneficiaries of a development plan that is being put in place to transform the Rivers countryside and possibly ensure some equity in the way projects are distributed across the State.

Fubara’s Lament:

The Rivers Governor expressed serious indignation over the uninspiring state of educational and health facilities.

Although he blamed no one,  he said government must embark on a quick fix of problems which inadvertently impact on human capital development.

“I was in Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting on Wednesday, and we were given an update from the chart on medical position of all the states. It was in zones.

“You won’t believe that in that chart, everything that has to do with enrollment, even the level of facilities that is on ground in that assessment, Rivers State was classified as below benchmark. It is a pity.”

Saying such a situation is unacceptable, Fubara remarked, “It is not something that just happened in a day. It is not something that just happened within my time in government.

“No, no. It is statistics collated over a period of time. So, it means when we tell you that our target is education, healthcare and agriculture, we didn’t make any mistake.

“We might have done other things, but those key areas have not been adequately attended to. And we promise our people this afternoon that by the special grace of God, in the next six months, there will be a total change in the health sector of Rivers State.”

Support For Tinubu, Support For Sub Nationals: 

 

Out of Obolo land where Fubara went the other day has come a new understanding, a new sense of brotherhood, which may lay the foundation for national integration and national collaboration.

Fubara urged Nigerians, especially Rivers people, while speaking in Andoni to throw their weight behind President Bola Tinubu.

He said the success of the Federal Government would translate to the progress of the sub nationals and growth in the local governments.

“In the governance of this country, the success of the centre is the success of the sub-national”, the Governor explained.

According to him, “when the sub-national succeeds, which is the state, the local governments will succeed.

“And when the local governments succeed, it means, more projects, more life-changing activities will be seen in your domain.”

Cries of Joy And Celebration:

There is great rejoicing in Andoni. Men, women and children are thanking God. A jinx in the development arena has been broken.

Prince Uche Secondus, former National Chairman of the PDP  captured the mood when he took his turn to speak at the commissioning of the road. And the traditional institution of the Andoni people demonstrated their appreciation by adopting Fubara as a son and inducting him as member of the Council of Chiefs.

There are cries of “asawana”. They are not cries of “akpolokpolo the talking bird” made popular in the UPN days.

Cries of Asawana may have looked like a battle cry at first. But those cries are heralding a new notion of hope and great expectations; and a message of liberation not just for the people of Andoni, but for the rest of us.

It may be too early to say what the future holds or to imagine for that matter what these four years shall bring to the table as the Rivers people make progress.

Nonetheless, Fubara would be remembered throughout time by the Andoni people as the champion of the people that he has become in their eyes and possibly elsewhere in Rivers State where the silent revolution is gradually taking root.

Somehow, if nature wills. a tale of wanton deprivation may be replaced by the exploits of a man of humble beginning whose name Siminalayi, when literally translated, means the son of a poor man could become king.