They stated this yesterday when the Ndoni Council of Chiefs, led by the Awoh and Okpala-Ukwu of Ndoni, Chief Gabriel Obi II paid a solidarity visit to Governor Omehia at Government House, Port Harcourt.

In an address presented on behalf of the community, and read by Chief Anthony Egobueze, the Ndoni people said they were confident in the governor’s capacity to lead the state to higher glory, and stamp away poverty from the faces of Rivers people.

Chief Egobueze said the Ndoni community aligns with Sir Omehia’s SHIRE Contracts for the people of Rivers State, and his determination to eradicate the circle of violence, characterised by cultism, gangsterism, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Describing Sir Omehia as a worthy successor to former Governor Peter Odili, an indigene of Ndoni, the people commended Governor Omehia for not derailing from the pragmatic leadership style of his predecessor, and for proving to Rivers people that he was a man to be trusted, by relating effectively with all groups that make up the state.

“We are satisfied with your intrinsic values and delighted with your capacity to lead our state to the glory of God, and renew our psyche to be our brothers keeper, and work towards a common destiny”, the people asserted.

The Ndoni people said they were impressed with the governor’s commitment to infrastructural development of the state, especially the construction of Port Harcourt shopping mall, and Rumuwoji Market, among others, including his interest in education and health care as well as his focus on agriculture and environment.

Responding, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, thanked the people of Ndoni for their support to his administration, and expressed delight that the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Peter Odili was from that area.

Sir Omehia described Dr Odili, the immediate past governor, as a rare gift to Rivers State and Nigeria, as his name commands a lot of respect within and outside the country, pointing out that his administration would sustain the legacy that the former governor left behind.

Governor Omehia disclosed that he has personally benefited from Dr Odili’s wealth of experience in governance, and promised to deliver all the benefits due to the Ndoni community during his tenure.

He commended them for their peaceful co-existence, and urged the contractor handling a bridge project in the area to complete the job before December, 2007, otherwise the contract would be cancelled and re-awarded to a competent contractor.

Sir Omehia hinted that his administration has started the implementation of the five-point SHIRE Contracts with Rivers people, and directed the leader of the delegation to forward five names of Ndoni indigenes, to be considered in the state government sponsored overseas masters degree programme in oil and gas related courses.

The governor said the state government would embark on a number of projects to give the state capital a facelift, such as the proposed comprehensive drainage system, and the Port Harcourt Ring Road, which is expected to decongest the existing roads in the metropolis, when completed.