By CHARLES IWUOHA

Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, has laid the foundation for the construction of a rail line from Abakaliki, the state capital, to the International Airport, Onueke.

At the foundation laying ceremony of the train station on Saturday at former timber shed, Abakaliki, Umahi explained that he was not making choice of priority projects for the incoming administration as he would personally see to the realisation of the project through his influence at the red Chambers of the National Assembly.

He reiterated that the project, which will be in phases, was in response to the earlier approval by President Muhammadu Buhari for the construction of railway line from Enugu to Abakaliki.

“First is to thank God Almighty for this. Even as we are sitting here some people’s heart are failing them. Let nobody’s heart fail him, this project is in phases.

“The train station is going to run from here to Onueke, the Airport, from there, it gets to David Umahi Federal University and from there to Akanu Ibiam Federal polytechnic,” Umahi said.

He assured that he would continue to support the incoming administration to get the fair share of democracy dividends accruing to the state as Senator.

“Abuja group is just there to undermine the powers of the state, it has not done the state any good. I will support the incoming administration to take our dear state to the next level of development,” he said.

He called on the incoming administrations in South East to consider evolving ways to ensure inter-state connectivity within the geo-political zone.

Umahi also commissioned some completed projects, on Saturday.

Some of the projects commissioned include the Igboke Ewa Central Park, Abakaliki, the Nwaiboko Obodo road, the Nkalagu road, the Ibeto flyover in Nkalagu and the Obvurube Bridge.

At Ibeto flyover, said the project was named after business mogul, Chief Cletus Ibeto, in recognition of his support for his election in 2015.

“This flyover bridge is named after Chief Ibeto and we did that to recognise his assistance to us in 2015 when we were seeking the mandate to be Governor of Ebonyi State.

“We have no regrets to have built flyovers. I am also sure that the incoming administration will do their own bit to continue the transformation in the state, thus the success of the two administrations shall be seen as one,” Umahi said.

Earlier while commissioning the Nwaiboko Obodo road, the Obvurube Bridge and the Nkalagu road, the Governor-elect, Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru, the Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe and the former Minister for Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu thanked Governor Umahi for improving the lots of the people through construction of the roads and bridge.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Chief Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara, applauded Governor Umahi for saving lives of Ebonyi Citizens through the roads, bridges and flyover.

Members of the State Executive Council as well as support groups accompanied the Governor on the commissioning ceremonies.