By Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has reassured the Ogoni people of the 10th Senate’s determination, in collaboration with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to continue to work for the peace and development of the oil producing community.
Akpabio gave the assurance while receiving at a courtesy by His Royal Majesty, Mene (Dr) Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam Gbenemene, Kasimene Bangha VII of Ogoniland and the Acting President of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in River State, in his office recently.
According to a statement from the senate president’s Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the senate president hailed the royal father for continued peace in the Niger Delta Region.
He therefore stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration was totally committed to the completion of the East West road during his tenure as the President, and the 10th Senate and the National Assembly are ready to do everything within their powers to support the completion of the road.
“When I was the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, we did our best to move it up to almost 89 percent completion. What was left was a major stretch from Eleme junction.
“The human factor also played a major part in the delay. We can’t do anything without security and that is why we will continue to appeal to our youths to cooperate with any company that comes there to add value.
“It isn’t the Federal Government that uses the road, it is our people. The condition of the road affects economic activities and that is why whatever must be done to put it in shape, would be done.
“We are happy to receive you on behalf of other Ogoni traditional rulers. This Senate, is indeed concerned about the East West road and that is why we had to set up a committee headed by Senator Abdul Ningi to come down and study the East West road and bring back a report for the Nigerian Senate to look at why the road has taken so long to be completed, despite the economic importance of the road to the country. That shows the seriousness the Senate attaches to that road,” he stressed.
Earlier in his speech, the Ogoni monarch thanked the Senate President for his roles in the construction of the East West road, when he was the Niger Delta Minister.
He said: “I specifically thank you for the works you have done on the East West road. I remember very well that it was from that meeting we had severally with you, that resulted into what the Minister of Work is doing today. I want to sincerely thank you for the love you have for us, as a people, of course, you always say that you are part and parcel of Ogoni.”
He thanked the Senate President for recognizing one of his sons in the constitution of Senate Committees, saying, “I specifically thank you for appointing our son as the Senate Committee Chairman on Works. It is a good thing what you have done for us and we sincerely appreciate it and won’t take it for granted”.
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