The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lamented plans by some elements to scuttle his move to reconstruct two roads in Benue state as his rift with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state continues.
Wike, yesterday raised the alarm over the plot to scuttle the multi-billion naira project.
Recall that during the weekend, Wike had said he would reconstruct the Makurdi-Naka-Adoka and the Aliade-Oju-Obarike-Ito-Otukpo roads in Benue State, as his contribution to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the state.
The Rivers State governor put the project cost at N4 billion.
Speaking yesterday, Wike alleged that some elements in Benue State were planning to disturb contractors he had already mobilised to sites.
He said, “We have mobilised the contractors to site, to reconstruct the two roads in Benue. But information reaching us indicates that there are plans to disturb the work.
“We want to get the road done as quickly as possible, but the plan to disturb the contractor is giving us some worries.
“Those who are planning this should bear in mind that they are working against development. The people of Benue, who use these roads, are suffering and we want to bring an end to this by reconstructing the roads. Those against the job should not be enemies of progress.”
Wike further said that the recent protest of pensioners in the state confirmed his earlier claim that the welfare of the people in Benue State has not received adequate attention from the government.
He added, “You must have heard that pensioners protested in Benue. They protested because they are being owed pension arrears. I have been vindicated. The Benue State government has failed in its duties.”
He called for declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State over what he described as the state government’s show of incapability in handling security matters.
He also called on the anti-graft agency to probe Ortom over the alleged wasteful use of Paris Club refund allocation.
Wike said despite the amount of money disbursed to Benue, the state government had not done much for the people.
He said Benue people are suffering “because they don’t have dividends of democracy.”
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