In the next few days, Chief (Barrister) Nyesome Wike will be 100 days in the saddle as the governor of Rivers State. Without doubt, history will judge Wike as the most outstanding governor of the first one hundred days of this dispensation. The facts speak for themselves.
This is contrary to the predictions of his predecessor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi that Wike would fail to deliver.
Hear Amaechi celebrating the trap he set for Governor Wike during a thanksgiving service held by the Greater Together Campaign Organisation (GTCO), the campaign
outfit of the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr.Dakuku Peterside: : “ I think Nyesom Wike is coming, we are waiting. He will look for money for salary; there is none. But when he pays out salary, we will see if anyof them can do what we did in this state: whether they can build the schools, the roads, even to get a loan’’.
It was under this precarious situation planned and executed against the Rivers people that Governor Wike took up the reins of leadership. It was a very gloomy period. The courts were closed, the State Assembly crippled, the state bureaucracy was in coma, the roads were death traps and insecurity was at the worst imaginable level. Civil servants were owed for two months, pensioners owed for six months and the entire Port Harcourt City was a huge dump site because Amaechi owed refuse clearing service providers several months of unpaid fees running into billions.
Worse still, the former Governor did not hand over any documents and refused to set up a transition committee to interface with the then incoming administration.
Instead, Amaechi turned a drummer boy at the Eagle Square, Abuja on May 29.
As an apostle of the “Talk na Do” political philosophy, Wike refused to be cowed by the political booby traps set for him. He was overwhelmingly elected because the people believed in his capacity to surmount the obstacles of treachery and wanton theft of state resources as exemplified by Amaechi’s administration. All through the campaign trail, the song was the same in all languages – “Wike na talk na do.”
The governor himself amplified it at every spot, both at the riverine and upland communities. ”My word is my bond. What I say I will do, I will do”.
With Wike’s exemplary administration in the last ninety-five days, the people have realised that they were right to have embraced the “talk na do”, political philosophy over the politics of treachery and corruption.
On his very first day in office, Governor Wike revived the judiciary, initiated operation zero pothohes and kick-started the process of rebuilding the state civil service. On June 1, he swore in the State Acting Chief Judge and the State Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal. He also proclaimed the State House of Assembly at the Assembly Complex the same day.
Governor Wike has instituted constitutional separation of powers in the state with all arms of government functioning optimally. Indeed, former Governor Amaechi had to use the State High Court recently, even though he shut it down for one year.
The Rivers State House of Assembly is now one of the most active in the country, passing critical bills and doing legislative business at its complex.
Today, Rivers State is now a huge construction site. The economy is waxing stronger and the State is working again.
Two construction giants, Julius Berger and CCECC are handling the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Port Harcourt roads which spans two local government areas with a great percentage of the state’s population and economic infrastructure. The success recorded so far is mind boggling.
Wike has redefined project execution in Rivers State. Even under the rains, which was the indefensible excuse of Amaechi’s government, the roads are springing to life in areas such as Diobu, Borokiri, Iwofe road, GRA, Akpajo, Eliopranwo, Tombia extension, Eagle Island and other key communities in the state capital.
Several other construction companies are working on roads in different parts of the state to open up the state to the rest of the country.
Theonce deplorable Eleme-Onne Junction of the East West road leading to the Onne sea port is now motorable and work is still ongoing. Same for the Industry/NPA road to the Port in Port Harcourt City.
These interventions to rehabilitate two key federal roads are in line with his promise to make the ports functional for the economic revival of Rivers State.
The Abonnema -Obonoma link road in Akuku-Toru LGA has been completed while work on Andoni-Opobo Unity road as well as the Trans-Kalabari road is billed to commence shortly.
Through the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, the governor has started the construction of a facility to move auto-mechanics and spare parts dealers out of the city centre to further beautify Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike has also strengthened the security architecture of the state. He intervened in the equipping of the police and other security agencies, supplying 64 security vans with high class communication gadgets to track down criminals.
Beyond the donation of the vehicles, Governor Wike initiated a compensation scheme where families of security agents who die in active service fighting criminals will receive N5million, while residents who supply credible information that will lead to the arrest of kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists will get N1million.
The governor sent the state anti-kidnapping bill to the State Assembly, which has been passed and assented to by him.
In the housing sector, Governor Wike has completed the Iriebe Housing Estate of 50 units of two and three bedroom flats. He promised to replicate this model across the state.
For the first time in many years, Rivers State hosted an international football match. It hosted the U23 match Olympic Qualifier Match between Nigeria and Congo. It has been given the hosting rights of three Super Eagles matches beginning with the match against Tanzania. He has cleared the backlog of salaries of Sharks and Dolphin Football Clubs players.
Within this period too, he has commenced the process of rehabilitating prominent schools across the state. The hitherto abandoned state of the art Law Faculty building at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology has been completed.
The health sector is about to receive a revival pill. The governor has established the framework for the equipping of major general and zonal hospitals in the state.
Regarding economic development, Governor Wike took the most ambitious step. He started the process to end multiple taxation by involving all stakeholders across the state.
He has in the last three months opened functional lines of engagement with the diplomatic community, local and international business concerns. He has renewed partnerships with Shell, NLNG, NPA, Indorama, INTELS, NNPC, just to name a few. The governor has already attracted a Visa Centre of the South African Government and is working out international programmes with the British, the Irish, the Chinese and the US.
Rivers State is now a hub of development and collaboration as institutions, companies and entrepreneurs are now coming to the state to benefit from expanding business opportunities with the multiplier effects on jobs, economy and social stability.
Governor Wike has, in line with his promise to the people, effectively commenced the creation of a New Rivers State. He has given them back their voice and ensured that their resources work for them.
Even his few opponents who are presently on self exile in Abuja have commended him on his programmed revival of decayed infrastructure across the state.
Wike is no doubt, a political phenomenon. His ‘Talk na Do ‘ brand of politics is hinged on the people and the vision to improve their living standard. It is anchored on protecting them from external resource predators and ensuring that their God-given resources are judiciously deployed for all round development. It is about giving Rivers State a pride of place in the comity of states. So far, so great.
Nwakaudu is a Special Assistant (Media )to the Rivers State Governor.
Source: TheTideNews
