The Rivers House of Assembly on Tuesday, approved a request by Governor Nyesom Wike, to obtain N20 billion loan to complete ongoing road projects, and start new ones in the state.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Ikunyi Ibani, said at plenary session in Port Harcourt that Wike made the request in order to continue with some road projects abandoned by the past administration.

He stressed that the approval of the loan was necessary to deliver quality service and dividends of democracy to the people.

“The governor will not deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state without funds.

“There is no leader that can deliver dividends of democracy without funds even if he had promised heaven on earth for his people.

“Our emphasis here is not on the first 100 days, but delivering quality leadership and infrastructure to the people.

“At the end, we will be able to walk on the streets with our shoulders high that we have achieved better policies for the state,” he said.

Ibani held that the request showed honesty and accountability for the governor to continue with projects not awarded by his administration, adding “he should be given every support to carry out such projects for the benefit of the people.”

Leader of the House, Mr Martins Amaewhule (PDP-Obio/Akpor 1), said the roads were in bad shape and constituted death traps to the people of the state.

Amaewhule also said the welfare of the people should be paramount to achieve development.

“Most of these roads are located in the revenue generating areas of the state and should be fixed to derive more income to the state,” he said.

He expressed support for the approval and the repayment of the loan through internally generated revenue of the state.

Mr Jones Ogbonda (PDP-Port Harcourt City 1), said the completion of the roads would put smile on the faces of the people.

Ogbonda said the approval would help the government to speedily fix the roads and reduce the rate of crime in the state. (NAN)

•Photo shows Governor Wike.

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