HUMILITY::: You won't believe what Bihari did in Calabar yesterday....follow the link to read and share.

President
        Muhammadu
Buhari
on
Tuesday
defied
a
downpour
to
perform                        

the
groundbreaking
for
the
construction

of

the
construction
of
the proposed 260-kilometre Calabar-Ikom-Katsina-Ala
superhighway and a deep sea port in Cross River State.

Despite the rain, the President shunned the helicopter in the
Presidential fleet and rode on the deplorable road from Calabar to
Obun village, in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, for
the inauguration of the project.

The visit to Cross River was President Buhari’s first working visit
to any state in the country since his assumption of office on May
29, 2015.

The President’s Nigerian Air Force flight 5N-FGT touched the
tarmac of the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar at
exactly 10am, but he could not use the helicopter marked Air
Force NAF-280 to the venue of the ceremony due to the heavy
rain.

Buhari, however, got to the venue of the groundbreaking event at
about 12.35pm, while the helicopter flew in to wait ahead of his
arrival when the rain subsided.

The President and his entourage were received at the airport by
the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, his colleagues from Akwa
Ibom and Imo states, Udom Emmanuel and Rochas Okorocha
respectively, and two former governors of Cross River State, Mr.
Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke.

Others were the senators representing Cross River south, central
and northern districts, Gershom Bassey, John Enoh and Rita Oko
respectively. Others were a former presidential aide, Senator
Florence Ita-Giwa and a former chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Mr. Ekpo Okon.

Speaking shortly before unveiling the project, Buhari, who was
welcomed to the venue by a mammoth crowd including the
Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, and other traditional
rulers, said he would support the project and ensure that it was
completed.

Apart from providing job opportunities, Buhari said the road would
reduce travel time from Calabar to the neighbouring Benue State
and beyond by over four hours.

He said, “This 260-kilometre road is intended to serve as an
evacuation route and I understand that the technical process for
the deep seaport is ongoing. 

The road will open a window of
opportunity for the people of Cross River State and Nigeria as a
whole as well as reduce travel time from six to two hours.
“That I am here in person underscores the importance that the
Federal Government attaches to this. It is indeed a significant
milestone in the economic policy of the governor. 

This is the first
groundbreaking under my Presidency. I commend Ayade and his
team for their foresight in conceptualising this project.

“I want to assure you of the commitment of the Federal
Government to ensuring the completion of the project. I promise
I will come back to commission it. I urge the governor to ensure
that work is done on it quickly.”

Earlier, Ayade, who commended President Buhari for honouring
the invitation to unveil the project, had said the idea of the road
and the deep sea port was meant to find a new means of
production after the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon and the
subsequent loss of 76 oil wells.

Ayade, however, solicited the support of the Federal Government
in the completion of the project, adding that the state financial
resources would not see the project through.

While promising that with commitment the project could be
completed within the next four or five years, Ayade said already
the state had received a 500m Euros facility from a foreign
financial institution as well as support from Skye Bank and
Heritage Bank to execute the project under a Public-Private-
Partnership model.

He said, “Mr. President, you said you are for everyone and today
you have proven this by your support for us. 

That is because
given the circumstances of our nation and the politics, Cross
River State would not have been worthy of being your first port of
call. You have shown that you are truly a President.

“The ontological kinetics of the road started with the loss of oil
wells, consequent to the loss of Bakassi. 

The state was reduced
to want. It became imperative to reconstruct a new means of
production and open a new horizon to get our teeming young
men employed.

“The road will serve as an evacuation corridor for the new deep
sea port. The sea port will have a draft of 14 metres and a key
wall of 680 metres that will allow for all sizes of vessels to berth.

The road will be the first to have broadband Internet connectivity,
speed cameras, ambulance services, and photo solar system.

“It is your courage and encouragement that will see us through.
 I
know you will make it come to pass. We have secured a 500m
Euros facility from a financial institution in Israel. We also have
the support of Skye Bank and Heritage Bank under the PPP
model. It is our hope with the support given to us that the project
will become a reality.”

Earlier at the airport, Buhari had inspected the guard of honour
mounted by personnel of the Navy, Army and Air force.

The President and his entourage later departed the venue of the
ceremony with the Air Force helicopter at about 1.20pm.