Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has gotten approval of from the House of Assembly to obtain N20 billion loan from Access Bank Plc, ballooning the loan raised by the state under his watch to N30 billion, within four weeks.

The lawmakers gave the approval barely three weeks after a similar loan of N10 billion from Zenith Bank Plc was approved by the House for the state governor to execute “vital projects”.

Wike had written to the House through the Speaker, Ikuinyi Ibani, requesting for an approval to take the loan, which would be serviced through the state Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).

According to Wike, the loan would be used to fund ongoing road projects awarded by the former governor Chibuike Amaechi-led administration and new ones.

Twenty-nine out of 32 lawmakers(only one is APC) voted in favour of the approval, after giving their reasons for supporting the decision.

The lawmakers admitted that most of the roads in state were impassable due to abandonment of the projects, which had caused challenging to members of the public.

The Rivers lawmakers noted that the ongoing projects were commercial roads, adding that, when completed, they would accelerate economic dividends of the state.

Speaker Ibani, while ruling on the matter, said that no president or governor could fulfil his electioneering promises without funds.

“The Eight Assembly will only give approval for projects we know. We must know the reason for any loan facility the government is requesting even now, or later”.

Taking a cue from Governor Wike’s recognition of Celestine Omehia as former Governor of the state last week, the House of Assembly has also given recognistion Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.