After 150 years of its existence, ancient Opobo kingdom, an island in Rivers State can now be accessed by road, following the inauguration of a section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity road by Governor Nyesom Wike.
The mood in the ancient and historic kingdom of King Jaja of Opobo on Saturday was euphoric, as ecstatic crowd thronged the road and cheering Governor Wike for connecting the island by road to the mainland of the State.
Governor Wike, while addressing a joyous crowd at Opobo New Layout, said the completion of the road is a dream come through for the people of the area and his administration.
The Govenor said he was happy to have fulfilled his 2014 campaign promise to Opobo people.
He expressed appreciation to the administration of Dr. Peter Odili for conceiving the Unity Road project.
According to Governor Wike, without the foresight of Dr. Odili, it would have been difficult to complete the Opobo axis of the Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni Unity Road.
To further sweeten the day, he declared a new land reclamation project for the kingdom.
He also spoke of the Queen Town erosion menance that had plagued the people noting that they should query their own son, a former Commissioner of Works who awarded the contract for N3.1billion, gave N2bilion and nothing was done.
Commissioner For Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said “the road is 11.15km long, 7.3m wide with a 1.5m wide. From the start point at Nkoro/Opobo junction to this point where we are now gathered you will cross 18 culverts of varying dimensions and 5 bridges of varying lengths the shortest being 34m”.
The Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, said the people of his kingdom will remain eternally grateful to the Governor for the humanity he has brought to governance
Performing the inauguration, former Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources as well as Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, expressed gratitude to Governor Wike for solving critical needs of the Opobo people.
He observed how excited the people are to have a road to drive on to connect the island to the rest of the State.
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