President
Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday in Abuja that he would do the "real
ground-breaking" ceremony for the second Niger Bridge in Anambra on
March 10.
The president said this on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Anambra people led by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, and Gov. Peter Obi.
The delegation, which also included the
governor-elect of the state, Willie Obiano, was on a thank-you and
solidarity visit to the president.
Jonathan said that the launch of the construction work on the bridge was in keeping with his promise to the people of Anambra,
He explained that he could have launched the project long ago with fanfare but government must show commitment to its execution.
He said that with proper planning and funding now put in place, he was ready to start the project in earnest.
"The
Minister of Works has briefed me that they have done a lot of
mobilisation; we are coming to do real ground breaking ceremony of the
second Niger Bridge and other projects," he said.
It will be
recalled that the president had, during a recent visit to the state,
pledged to launch the construction of the bridge before Obi leaves
office on March 17.
He commended Obi for maintaining a cordial relationship with the Federal Government.
He
also used the opportunity to admonish other elected officials and
politicians to focus on developing their states rather than make a
past-time of attacking and abusing the president.
"A number of
politicians feel that the best thing to do is to be abusing Mr.
President, abusing the Federal Government and so on.
"You are
elected to develop your state and I think the best thing is to have good
relationship with the centre; whether you have a pin or you do not have
but one day it will come.
"Wearing boxing gloves, jumping into the boxing ring to face Mr. President does not help the development of any state."
The
president specifically commended Obi for his people-oriented programmes
and for managing an opposition-controlled state assembly without a
crisis.
He pledged to give his successor, Willie Obiano, equal support to help him succeed.
The
president also promised to retain Obi in the Federal Government's
Economic Management Team even after he leaves office as state governor.
Earlier,
Obi had said that it would be difficult for a state governor to make
meaningful impact without the support of the Federal Government.
He specifically thanked the president for the support given to his state.
"I have been governor under three presidents and I know the difference.
"Anambra state is your home and we are committed to supporting you and your government," he said.(NAN)
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