Politics
100 Days In View …Wike: Living The ‘Talk Na Do’ Philosophy
Governor Wike
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.
Simeon Nwakaudu
A senator who represented Taraba Central, Mr Abubakar Yusuf, has declared that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu are not yielding the expected results.
His comment is one of the strongest internal critiques yet from within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The comment underscores the growing dissatisfaction within sections of the ruling party over the direction and impact of the administration’s economic reforms amid rising living costs and fiscal pressures across the country.
Mr Yusuf, who served in the Senate between 2015 and 2023 under the platform of the APC, made the remarks during an appearance on national television.
Responding to a question on whether the administration’s economic direction, often referred to as Tinubunomics, was working, Mr Yusuf answered in the contrary.
“For me, it is not working. I am a member of the APC. I would be the last person to hide the facts”, he said.
He said while the government might be operating diligently within its policy structure, the framework itself is ill-suited to Nigeria’s current realities
“Within the policy framework, yes, they are doing their best, but it is not the framework that is suitable for Nigeria at the point in time that President Asiwaju came into power,” he said.
Mr Yusuf criticised the immediate removal of fuel subsidy on the day the president was sworn in, arguing that the decision lacked sufficient consultation and planning.
“I am one of those who say President Asiwaju ought to have waited. Not on the day he was sworn in to say subsidy is gone. On what basis?”, he asked.
He urged broader engagement before major fiscal decisions are taken.
“Sit down with your cabinet, sit down with your ministers, sit down with your advisers,” he said, dismissing the argument that subsidy removal was justified solely on grounds of corruption.
The former lawmaker identified “structural flaws” in the country’s budgeting system, particularly the envelope budgeting model.
“One of the basic problems is that before you budget, you should have a plan. The envelope system we have been operating has been you budget before you plan. That has been a major issue”, he said.
He argued that allocating spending ceilings without aligning them to concrete development strategies inevitably weakens implementation and delivery.
“If you give me an envelope which is contrary to my plan, whether it is plus or minus, there is no way I am going to implement my plan. It is bound to fail,” he said.
Mr Yusuf called for the scrapping of the envelope budgeting system, noting that he had consistently opposed it even during his years in the National Assembly.
“It is not good for us. It is not going to work well for us,” he said.
He further blamed poor capital releases and persistent deficit financing for undermining budget performance over the years.
“We could not meet 60 percent of our capital budget in all these years. No releases. If you make a budget and the release is very poor, there is no way the budget will be executed”, he stated.
According to him, weak fund disbursement mechanisms and reliance on deficit financing have entrenched a cycle of underperformance.
“Our budget ought to have been a surplus budget, but all our budgets have always been deficit financing budgets,” Mr Yusuf added.
The Nigerian House of Representatives has resolved to reconvene for an emergency session tomorrow February 17, 2026, to deliberate on issues arising from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) release of the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was disclosed in a statement issued by the House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who described the electoral body’s announcement as one of “constitutional and national significance.”
INEC had fixed February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to the statement, members of the Green Chamber were notified of the emergency sitting through an internal memorandum from the Speaker’s office.
The session is expected to focus on legislative matters connected to the newly released timetable, reflecting the House’s resolve to act promptly on issues affecting the nation’s democratic process.
Rep. Rotimi noted that all related businesses would be treated with urgency and urged lawmakers to prioritise attendance in view of the importance of the deliberations.
INEC had on Friday formally unveiled the comprehensive schedule for the 2027 polls, including timelines for party primaries slated for July to September 2026, as well as the commencement of Continuous Voter Registration in April 2026.
The development comes amid ongoing consultations and proposed amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the controversy over the transmission of election results continues across the country, the Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD), a pro democracy organisation in the country, has criticised the National Assembly for not giving express approval to real time transmission of elections results.
To this end, the group is calling on all civil society organisations in the country to mobilise and push for a better Electoral Reform in the country.
This was contained in a press statement titled, “Defence For Human Rights and Democracy Demands Real Time Election Transmission of Result”, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
The group described the refusal of compulsory real time transmission of result results by the Senate as undemocratic, adding that the situation will give room for election manipulation, rigging and voters apathy.
It said that the provision of mandatory real time transmission of election results would have significant improvement on the nation’s democracy.
According to the statement, “Since the return of democracy in 1999 to date, it is 27 years, so our Democracy has metamorphosed from being nascent and as such significant improvement should have been recorded.
“Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD), is really disappointed at the National Assembly, especially the upper chamber (Senate) for not approving ‘Real Time Electronic Transmission of Election Result’.
“This undemocratic act of theirs, if not tamed, will give room for election manipulation and rigging’”.
Signed by Comrade Clifford Christopher Solomon on behalf of the organisation, the statement further said, “The Defence For Human Rights and Democracy unequivocally supports real time transmission of election result”, stressing that his group will resist any act by the National Assembly to undermine the nation’s democracy.
“DHRD,unequivocally supports ‘True Democracy’, which is Government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“Therefore, anything that will crash the hope of Nigerians to Freely, Fairly and Transparently elect candidates of their choice in any given election should and will be vehemently resisted because good governance begins with leaders elected through credible process. By so doing, leaders have entered a social contract with the citizens to equitably manage their affairs and abundant resources”, the statement added.
It urged the National Assembly to revisit the issue in order to avoid civil unrest.
According to the DHRD, “To avoid civil unrest,voters apathy, election rigging and manipulation, rather to promote citizens participation, advancing our Democracy and entrenching free, fair, credible and acceptable electoral outcome, the National Assembly should amend the electoral act in a manner that will deepen our democracy and boost citizens confidence.
“On this note, The Defence For Human Rights And Democracy (DHRD), is calling on all other civil society organisations (CSOs) to mobilise, organise and push for a better electoral act amendment by the National Assembly”.
By: John Bibor