President Goodluck Jonathan at the weekend paid an unscheduled visit to Warri, Delta State, where he explained why the ground breaking ceremony for the Delta Gas City Project and the Export Free Zone was aborted.
Jonathan who had a private audience with the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and in company of the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, paid courtesy call on the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II.
The President told the Olu of Warri in the presence of his chiefs that he had to put-off the ground breaking because of the fear of outbreak of violence during the ceremony which would have frightened investors.
He said it was not put-off because he was afraid anything was going to happen to him, adding that as a son of the Niger Delta region, he can move freely in the zone without molestation.
Explaining that the ground breaking ceremony will not be done before the elections next month, President Jonathan stated that investors would have to be around for the ceremony, noting that the concerned companies would be given enough notice.
He, therefore, mandated the Delta State Governor to work closely with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Presidency to get a suitable date before May 29, 2015.
Reacting to the President’s visit, the state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, commended the President for coming personally to explain the circumstances that led to the suspension of the ceremony.
Ogeah in a statement said the “state government is also appreciative of the Olu’s understanding of the President’s explanation and commitment to the project.
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