By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned politicians against generating negative energies towards the 2023 general elections saying such attitude would not bring development in Nigeria.
Speaking during the commissioning of 1.15km Afi-Uko Ntighe bridge in Mbo Local Council on Monday, Jonathan regretted that some politicians have already started to exhibit bitterness ahead of February elections.
He stated that politics of bitterness hinders development, and called on politicians to market their politics with ideas, rather than fight, insult and abuse their opponents.
“I am a bit worried by the negative energy generated ahead of the 2023 elections.We have noticed a level of bitterness in our politics that does not bring development and I plead with politicians that marketing is about marketing your ideas. Politics is not about fighting, is not insulting, is not about abusing.
“We have been reading in the newspapers and social media of how billboards of Presidential candidates, governorship candidates are pulled down and I believe by hoodlums, but sometimes, they say some governments even support those kind of things.
“If you are a part of the team doing that, then know that you are among the unfortunate miscreants, wolvens, virus or pathogen that is really decomposing our democracy. Please stop doing that; but in all these, I believe the security services have a lot to do.
“I believe anybody who commits a crime should not be covered under politics. Arson is arson and is never status bound, so somebody who commits a crime, burn houses, kill people, the record must be kept, and whatever the investigation is completed, such people should be prosecuted; that is the only way people would stop doing this.
“But if people commit criminal offences and walk away, then, of course, other people would be encouraged to do same. So security services in Nigeria have a lot to do, they must not spare any criminal,” he stated.
Jonathan who was accompanied by former governor of Kogi State Capt Idris Wada(Rtd) comm nded the developments strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel pointing out that was possible through sustainable peace.
Governor Udom Emmanuel had earlier in his speech said he has satisfied his conscience with his achievements across the state, adding that despite criticisms and the falsehood peddled against his government, he has tried not to be distracted.
Emmanuel commended the community for supporting the construction of the project, saying the project confirms his promise to open up the riverine areas.
He revealed that the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Victor Attah International Airport, the first in Nigeria is awaiting commissioning, and is appreciated across the world.
“I said in my second term that we are going to open up the riverine areas. In Nigeria today, I think we are very few in terms of governirs who can have 31 local government areas and development touching 31 local government area simultaneously.
“There is no local government out of 31 which can say that this administration has not touched or there is not an ongoing life touching project going on now.
“This is the only place a subnational is signing a signature in the sky, on the land, in the water. Today, if I had gotten the support of the Federal Government, we would have gone far in this area. This is where the industrial hub for the future Nigeria lies.
“The Chairman of NNPC with Akwa Ibom and the investors signed a tripartite agreement as SSGD, the whole of this area, that is how significant this bridge is, to open up a solution hub in oil and gas, open industrial hub for Nigeria.” The Governor explained.
State Commissioner of Works, Prof Eno Ibanga said the 1.15km bridge sits on 412 piles with a minimum depth of 30 metres each, segmented into 52 spans of 22.5metres, which sits on 408 precast beams adding that the bridge meets all engineering specifications.
