Soludo, Ngige, Uzodinma Hail Buhari over 2nd Niger Bridge, Federal Secretariat, Awka

By Praise Chinecherem

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Tuesday eulogized President Muhammadu Buhari over completion and commissioning of the 2nd Niger Bridge and the federal Secretariat Complex situated in Onitsha and Awka, respectively.

Soludo who gave the commendation during commissioning of the projects, said people of the state and Southeast in general would remain indebted to him as he had engraved his name on sand of history.

He said he missed the commissioning of Dangote refinery on Monday in view of importance he attached to the bridge, which he described as game changer.

He said, “Today is a day of joy and we’ve come to express our boundless gratitude. This is particularly the reason I missed the commissioning of Dangote refinery yesterday because I had to be here personally.

“I’m overjoyed, history is being made. People of Southeast have agitated and petitioned about five key infrastructure projects – dredging of three channels that will give Southeast access to the Atlantic, construction of the Anambra-Lokoja Road, the gas pipeline, and the railway line.

“Of these five requests, it gives us great pleasure to tick one off the list: the construction of the second Niger Bridge. We’re sure the incoming president will take up the other four projects.

“As you leave office, the Southeast will remember you. From what we’ve heard from Minister for Works on projects being commissioned today, it will not be inappropriate to call you Mr. Infrastructure. This is a promise delivered.”

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has desribed President Muhammadu Buhari as a hero to Igbo people .

Describing the new bridge as a link to Old Eastern and Old Western regions of Nigeria, the governor said the President by delivering the project had become a hero to him (Uzodinma) and the entire Igbo nation.

He said, “We have cried to many government for years yet the projects were not done. The state of the First Niger Bridge make it difficult for our people returning for Christmas and other festivities to sometimes spend five days or more on the road. We thank President Buhari for delivering the projects even though he begged for our votes but we didn’t give him our votes. He is a hero to me and people of South East.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige described Buhari as a man of his words, saying he had lifted hope of the people of the zone.

He said, “We know what this bridge means to all of us, especially politicians. We recall how politicians campaigned with the bridge. But Buhari as a man of his words, made his own promise and kept to it.

“You’ve lifted our hope because this bridge signifies major handshake between East and West, East and the North. As you retire to ancient Daura, may you continue to enjoy God’s blessings.”

While commissioning the Federal Secretariat in Awka later, Ngige thanked Buhari for choosing Anambra as one of the states for the facility, despite the insignificant votes he got from the state.

“I told during our campaign that Buhari will build the 2nd Niger bridge, rebuild Enugu airport, reconstruct Enugu-Onitsha expressway, as well as this Secretariat. These are projects other governments played politics with.

“Yet the man that did all these things didn’t get votes from us. Let’s be aware that we’re the ones owing him. We should also learn to play politics of alliance, rather than putting our eggs in one basket,” he said.

The Minister who also praised Buhari for accepting to allow the Secretariat Complex to be named after an indigene of the state, Engr. Ebele Okeke who rose to the rank of Head of Service, underscored the place of regular maintenance of the facility.

“I’m sure the federal civil servants will enjoy this facility. But you must ensure you maintain this building as if it’s yours. That culture must not be toyed with. You must also demonstrate diligence and productivity,” he added.

Earlier, Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr Lars Richter, said it was an honour to be part of the success story of delivering the second Niger bridge to the people of Anambra and Delta States.

On his part, Contractor of the Secretariat Complex, Chief Cosmas Agagbo appreciated the federal government for its support, especially in ensuring the project was achieved at recorded time.

The Southeast governors and other leaders from the zone named the bridge after Buhari, and the federal secretariat complex built in Awka, the Anambra State, after the first female engineer and Head of Civil Service, Mrs Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke.