Drama:NDDC Boss Semenitari call out Bayelsa State Govt over Internal Road Re-construction Claims

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Boss has taken a swipe at Bayelsa State Govt after it took credit for internal emergency road repairs and rehabilitation on 14 roads in Bayelsa State, including the capital, Yenagoa. A statement by its Special Adviser on Media and Communication Mr. Bekee Anyalewechi said, the Commission has described as untrue and shocking recent claims by the Bayelsa State Government that it was intervening on the roads.According to the statement, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in reaction to claims made by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Obuebite Jonathan, on Saturday during a radio programme, in Yenagoa, that the ongoing emergency repairs on roads in the state were the handiwork of the state government, is untrue.She stated that “the ongoing emergency road repairs and rehabilitation covered the 9 mandate states of the Commission and wondered why that commend the interventionist agency for the bold step which would be a huge relief to it, the Bayelsa State Government decided to turn the truth head-down.“Such deliberate falsehood erodes public trust in authorities”,Ibim said, emphasising that the emergency work was meant to relief the government of some infrastructure burden.“The Commission had expected that the Government of Bayelsa State would, in best practice, emulate its Cross River and Akwa-Ibom States counterparts in commending the Commission.“Or, where it lacked the courage to attribute credit to NDDC, would keep quiet than spreading misinformation,” Semenitari added.”Semenitari expressed disbelief that though the Government knew the truth, it chose to hide it from the public noting that such style of governance erodes confidence in government and ridicules the tenets of probity.“NDDC saw gaps in road infrastructure across its 9 mandate states and the urgent need to intervene and after a management meeting, decided to act as to procure relief to motorists and other road users.“So the option of emergency road repairs came handy as it would afford immediate remedial solutions, relieve states of financial burden and enhance inter and intra-city communications. Under this intervention, hitherto impassable roads have become usable routes thereby boosting economic activity and improving livelihood of the people.”The Commission listed the 14 roads in which it is intervening in Bayelsa to be the Oporuma-Sabageria-Polaku road in Opokuma local government; Odi-Trofani road; Otiotio Road, Yenagoa; DooGood Street, Yenagoa; Goodnews Street, Azikoro, Yenagoa; Shepherd Vine Road, also in Yenagoa.According to NDDC, other roads in which its intervention is ongoing in the state capital are Capt. Ayeni Street; Saptex Road, Yenizue-Epie; INEC Road, Kpansia; Jasmine Suite Road, Kpansia; ErepaRoad ; and NIIT Road.Others it listed are the Dimrose-Green; Villa-Custom Link Roads 1 & 2, Biogbolo; and Tolda Road, Ekeki, all in Yenagoa.NDDC emphasised that while it was not engaging the Bayelsa State Government in any verbal war, it was necessary to leave the public with the correct information, saying “it is critical for good governance.