The ancient kingdom of Opobo in Rivers State was thrown into jubilation on Monday after Governor Nyesom Wike announced that the Opobo axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road would be completed in January 2021.

He said the road would attract development to the kingdom, even as he donated N50m for a befitting palace for King Jaja of Opobo.

Wike spoke at a ceremony to mark the 150 years anniversary of the establishment of Opobo Kingdom in Opobo town.

The governor, who expressed delight that Opobo people, said their friends and visitors could now drive by road to participate in the 150 years anniversary of the kingdom, assured that the road would be inaugurated in January 2021.

“As you’re coming from the Ogoni area, you’ll see that we have finished the first phase of Sakpenwa-Bori road; full dualisation. Now, we believe that the second phase will take it to Kono with streetlights installed.

“That will ease movement and reduce the level of crime in that place. We are happy that you can drive from Bori and within five minutes, you’re heading for Opobo.

“When that road is completed, it will bring development. I am glad that I made a promise to the people of Opobo. We believe that by the ending of January 2021 that we will come back to commission the road,” he stated.

The governor said his administration would continue to support developmental plans of the kingdom that would make life easy for them.

Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Jaja, said the sitting of Opobo on the banks of the Imo River was a well calculated plan in 1870, because the kingdom strategically became an important commercial settlement to compete with Lagos in volume of Nigerian international trade.

He said the Nigerian government had since failed to acknowledge the subsisting commercial potential of Opobo.

Source:- Punch ng