Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, praised Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, on Tuesday for the accomplishment of the 10.98-kilometre Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road project in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
At the road’s inauguration, Otti complimented Fubara on his memory of completing a road project in the Eleme neighbourhood, where he had formerly resided.
The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation was given the route, also known as the Old Bori route, on August 14, 2023, for a sum of N6.7 billion.
Otti emphasised in his speech the value of leadership in service, cautioning leaders to serve the people rather than their own interests.
He said, “I’ve always said that leadership is about service. Anytime leadership departs from service, then you are getting it wrong.
“Service should be service to the people, not service to oneself or a very few interests. Anytime you are serving a few people rather than the majority, you need to go and look at yourself again.
“Power belongs to God; no human can arrogate to himself the capacity to give power, except you have the capacity to give life. Of course, you can take life, but you cannot give it.”
Otti noted that “for me, it’s all about good governance. Governor Fubara came prepared, and I don’t believe that any distraction is enough to take his focus away from improving the welfare and interests of the people.
“So, I can assure you, Rivers people, that the dividends of democracy that you are seeing now are still a dress rehearsal. It is early in the morning, and I am sure that in no distant future, you will be seeing more.”
Fubara bemoaned that the contractors handling the majority of the projects commissioned by the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, “are still coming for their balance payments running into millions and billions,” even though he acknowledged that debt was a big issue in his government.
“I have said I don’t want to talk because I am part of that system, but when they keep pushing me, I will say it so that we will see the nyansh of the fowl.”
The governor also stated that he planned to present a “white paper” outlining the project’s funding at the project’s inauguration.
“As we proceed, we will create a white paper showing the record and amounts this project was awarded,” he noted.
Fubara expressed happiness that the commemoration of his “One Year in Office” anniversary had begun with the groundbreaking of a road project in Eleme, the neighbourhood where he first resided and began working.
He claimed that despite all of the difficulties, the finished project now shows that his administration is still committed to providing development for the populace.
“I’m happy to be here and to join the good people of Rivers State to start this wonderful celebration of our first anniversary in the face of all the troubles. It shows that we are still focused, not minding the level of distractions,” he said.
Fubara added that Otti’s presence at the inauguration of the road is because “he is not an artificial integrity man but an action integrity man.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
