Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, on Tuesday advised natives of Okrika, one of the crisis-ridden communities in the state to embrace peace for development to spread to the area.
Odili argued that there could be no development in an atmosphere of chaos and destruction.
The governor said this when he led a PDP campaign team to the area to solicit support for the party and its candidates in the April poll.
Odili warned, �If you want peace and development, you must continue to create the environment for it. As you can see, the violence in this area has hindered the ability of the administration to implement its lofty programmes for the natives.�
The governor however promised that all the projects slated for Okrika would still be executed as planned and singled out the Okrika Ring Road as a priority of his administration.
He said that the government had already paid 40 per cent of the cost of the road, adding that it was ready to release another 40 per cent this week to the contractor handling the project to enable him complete the road on time.
Describing the state as one of the most strategic in the country, Odili pleaded with the Okrika natives to vote for the PDP in next month�s election and assured them that the party would put in place all the things needed to give them a new lease of life.
Odili however said that any project left behind by his administration would be taken over and completed by his successor.
Many projects in the state, including the N9.8bn Trans-Kalabari Highway, meant to link the three Kalabari local government areas in the state, are billed for completion and inauguration by the Odili government barely two months to the end of its tenure.
But work on the road has suffered a setback lately because of the harassment and kidnap of government officials who went to inspect the job.