Tambuwal, Loolo commend Gov. Wike on school’s remodeling …Urge him to sustain his investments in Education sector …Say APC’s claim in Ogoni is make-belief

  David Amusa, Port Harcourt

 The Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and the chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Chief Lahteh Loolo have commended Governor Nyesom Wike for re-modeling and re-constructing Birabi Memorial Grammar school in Bori, headquarters of Khana LGA.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the chairman said the re-construction of the school is not just a re-construction but a symbolic one.

He said the school has a place in the heart of Ogoni people.

He said many of the prominent persons from Ogoni were alumni of the school and that an average Ogoni man attached strong sentiment to the school.

The chairman further said the Ogoni people were happy with the governor for cuing into the emotion of Ogoni people by re-modeling and restoring the old school that had nostalgic implication of the people of Ogoni extraction.

“The school is the foremost secondary school in Ogoniland. It was established in 1957. It has produced illustrious sons and daughters of Ogoniland. The school has not been renovated since it was established until Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike came on board as Governor of Rivers state. That is why Ogoni people are happy and they came out in their numbers to tell him thank you for what he has done”.

Chief Loolo assured that his tenure, God willing, would attract lots of developmental activities.

“I took the oath of office to protect life and property, clean up the environment, improve on infrastructure, empower and employ our people. In the next 100 days, you will see new things in Khana. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag now. But I can assure you in the next 100 days, you will see a lot that will be done”, he stated.

The council boss was full of praises for the governor for projects sited in the area such as the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono road, the zonal hospital and the renovation of community primary schools in Khana LGA.

“We thank the governor for the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono road. It was on this field on January 4^th, 2009 that the former governor promised us the road. Six years down the line, nothing happened. But three years of Chief Barrister Wike’s administration, the road has been constructed. It has opened up the economy of Ogoniland”.

He assured that on his own part, he intended to control the insecurity in the area.

To that effect, he said that riding of commercial motorcycles would be restricted.

“We have taken some decisions to restrict the movement of motor bikes from 6pm. It used to be 7pm in the evening. We are also looking at totally stopping motorcycle ‘okada’ operation in Bori town in the next few months”.

He added that there will be security checkpoints in all strategic locations in Bori and its environs to curtail incessant criminal activities of hoodlums.

“We are working with the security agencies to make sure that there is security in Khana LGA. We want to ensure that all the outlets from Bori are manned by security operatives to curb criminality in the town”, he said.

Speaking further, the chairman said it was wrong for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to parade itself as having stronghold in Khana and Ogoni land, pointing out that the activities of APC in the area were make-belief.

“Let me correct that impression. It is not APC’s stronghold. Khana is PDP. There is no APC in Ogoniland. What we have is the military and the INEC, rigging the elections for APC. We don’t have APC here”.

The council helmsman stated that come 2019 that everybody would know that PDP controlled the area.

Chief Loolo commended Ogoni people for showing massive support for PDP and the governor.

In hisown speech at the occasion, Sokoto State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal said even as far back as 2007, the school had degenerated beyond measures.

He expressed happiness that Providence has made it possible for him to return 11 years after to commission the school which has been upgraded to acceptable international standards .

“I can see why Ogoniland is getting calmer and calmer.  There is progress and development”, he said.

While urging Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to sustain his investments in the education sector, Governor Tambuwal urged other governors to emulate the Rivers State Governor.

In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that his administration resolved to intervene  in the remodelling and reconstruction of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori because it is a flagship school in Ogoniland.

He said: “Most people forget easily where we are coming from. This school was completely  damaged and all the facilities degraded. I pledged to the Ogoni people during our campaigns that I will reconstruct this school and make it a boarding facility.  Today, we have achieved that goal.

“I also promised that that we will construct and dualise the Sakpenwa-Bori Road. As you can see, the dualisation is almost completed and streetlights adorn the road “.

He said the Amaechi administration in the spirit of demolition, demolished several schools without rebuilding them. He said that the Amaechi  administration also planned to demolish Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, but was resisted  by Ogoni leaders.

“We have rebuilt several of the schools demolished and abandoned by the Amaechi administration.  Who will not want to study in a beautiful environment like this?   We keep our promises and we don’t give excuses “, he said.

The governor charged Nigerians to hold leaders accountable and ensure that they honour their pledges.

Governor Wike said the Sakpenwa-Bori Road constructed by his administration has improved the economy of the area, while Ogoni children will now have the opportunity of attending good schools.