Thousands  of  the people of  Etche and Ikwerre  Local Government Areas of Rivers  State  on Wednesday  celebrated the Igwuruta-Chokocho Federal Road reconstructed  by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, to create access to the food basket of the state.
Traditional Rulers, elders, clerics, women and youths from the two local government areas thronged the venue  of the commissioning at Chokocho in Etche Local Government Area, singing and dancing over the construction  of  a road that reconnected communities  cut off from each other for 20 years.
Senate Minority Leader and Former Akwa Ibom  State Governor,  Godswill Akpabio, commissioned.
He said there is no reason why the Federal Government should  continue to budget for roads annually,  when such federal roads are never constructed.
The former Akwa Ibom  State Governor noted that financial  allocations for Federal roads should be released to state governments to  handle the roads within their  respective  states.
“Where you have Federal roads, the Federal Government may never come. As such, states will have to take their destinies in their own hands.
“Here is a governor  who does not care if a road belongs to the Federal or State Government,  he goes ahead to construct to the benefit of his people”, Akpabio said.
Akpabio added: “Distribute money voted for federal roads to states. There is no need to continue  to  vote money for federal roads which are never constructed.  These funds should be distributed  to  the  states to construct  the roads”.
He commended  Governor Wike  for being a transformational leader who governs his people with compassion  and  judicious  application of resources. He said Governor Wike  deserves the applause  he is getting for the infrastructural  renaissance  taking place  in the state.
In his address, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said the successful  reconstruction  of  the  Igwuruta-Chokocho Federal Road  is in fulfilment  of the pledge he made to the people of Etche  during  the  campaign.
The governor  announced that his administration will  also construct the Chokocho -Igbo-Etche-Rumukrusi road to link more Etche communities.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, the Senior Prefect of Country Grammar School, Ikwerre /Etche,  John Oleh said the completion of the road has led to the school regaining its lost glory.
Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, who spoke on behalf of the Etche people, said: “It is clear that Governor Wike has endeared himself  to the hearts of all well-meaning people of Etche.”