ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
The Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned a 6.25 kilometer road along Sabon Kaura – Jos bypass which was named after him in Bauchi State.
The road, which was named Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Drive, was constructed by the Bauchi State Government at the cost of N2.2 billion.
Speaking before commissioning the road, he commended the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed for his developmental achievements in the state in less than two years of being in office.
The former President stated that most of his aides and allies abandoned him when he lost election, even as he described Bauchi State Governor as a trusted “son” whose loyalty is unparalleled.
He commended Governor Mohammed for standing by him even after he left office, saying that the invitation to commission the first legacy project in the state and immortalizing his name via the road project was a big honour to him which he would always live to remember.
“Today is a very big day for me, and you know why, because it is not easy for somebody to work with you in Nigeria then, even after leaving you, that person still continues with that kind of strong relationship with you”.
“I’ve been in government for a reasonable time, I’ve attained a number of levels starting from deputy governor and most of our experience is that after leaving office, some of the people you think that if they don’t see you will not eat, will just forget that you even exist”.
“But this Senator Bala Mohammed, the governor if Bauchi State, is a good brother and he has invited me to commission the first major project that he has completed. That is a big honour, and it is not only commissioning, he even named the road after me as Goodluck Jonathan road. Your Excellency, thank you so much,” he stated.
In his speech, Governor Mohammed described Jonathan as his mentor who has made so much impact in his life by teaching the art and science of leadership as it has manifested in the results he has achieved with the two years of his administration.
He said that at the inception of his administration in May 2019, the goverment hit the ground running by embracing good governance as a deliberate policy for development administration, to create the desired impact.
Governor Mohammed added that his administration’s policy thrust is predicated on global best practices of implementing Programmes that is targeted at improving the quality of lives of the people.
He said that his administration met a sorry state of infrastructure deficit in both urban and rural areas, pointing out his government confronted the situation head-on by embarking on accelerated urban renewal, development and Programmes as it was the only way to reverse the ugly trend.
According to him, through this initiative, his government has constructed over 100 kilometers of both urban and district roads across the geo-political spread of the state, .
He said: “I thank God for giving me the privilege to host someone I greatly respect for the role he has played in my life, the former President, my mentor, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Sir, you are here to see in practical terms some of the results if what you have taught me in arts and science of leadership”.
“The newly constructed 6.2km road will provide vital acess to Sabon Kaura community that trodes to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University campus and equally serves as a bye-pass linking Jos road with Dads Tafawa Balewa road”.
“The road was among the first legacy project embarked upon within the first one hundred days of my administration and was awarded to Habib Engineering Nigeria limited at the cost of N2.2 billion and completed within 6 months”.
“Again with the mentorship you have taught me, we executed all infrastructural projects through evaluation and revaluation in tandem with basic engineering management and evaluation to ensure value for money and price competiveness”.
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