Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday put national interest above politics when he disregarded efforts by the Rivers State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to convince him not to commission projects completed by Governor Nyesom Wike, who belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As reported by News Express earlier yesterday, Rivers APC had written to Prof. Osinbajo, claiming that Wike was mocking the party members in the state over the Acting President earlier labelling him “Mr. Projects” and claimed that the projects he was being invited to commission were substandard and beneath the dignity of his office.

The party’s efforts, however, failed as Osinbajo, as part of his one-day working visit to Rivers State, commissioned the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu Road and Chokocho-Igbo-Etche-Rumuokurushi inter-change, both constructed by the Wike administration.

A Channels TV report quoted Osinbajo as affirming during the ceremony that the Federal Government will support every effort to improve the living condition of Nigerians. The Acting President asked political leaders across the country irrespective of the party they belong to always work for the people, saying that was the only way the impact of the government can be felt by the public, the report said.

“Here with us to commission the project of the Rivers State government is Senator Magnus Abe who is from another party. The Federal Government supports every effort that benefits the people,” Osinbajo had said.

The Acting President commended Wike for the success of the projects. He further re-emphasised the need for leaders to shun partisan concerns and work in the interest of their people.

“We must always look for ways to advance the interest of our people, we are greater together than apart. Today is a very happy day, we will always have happy days,” he added.

Earlier, Wike had explained that the two roads were constructed to revive the economy of the local government, saying they were initially death traps.

He said: “The two roads to be commissioned today were so bad that the people of Etche could not use them to transport their agricultural products to markets.”

•Governor Wike watches as Acting President Osinbajo cuts the tape to commission project on Thursday. Photo: Channels TV.