What Should New Commissioners Do?

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom
Wike, recently swore in 22 Commissioners and Special Advisers, thereby fully constituting the State Executive Council. He described the team as “a mix of politicians and technocrats, women and men of good character and excellent experience in diverse endeavours”.
What do Rivers people expect from this highly praised team? Our Deputy Editor (Features), Calista Ezeaku went round the Port Harcourt city to get the views of some members of the public. The photographer was Nwiueh Donatus Ken Mr. Iheanyi Ogbakiri Ezinwo – Publisher
The new Commissioners are coming into government at a politically challenging time in the history of Rivers State. Well, Rivers people expect them to come with a mind to serve the interest of the citizens. They expect the new commissioners to come up with new ideas on how to improve the quality of lives of the people. We expect the new Commissioner for Transport to restore sanity on our roads. Irregular parks are emerging in unusual places, just as commercial drivers now carelessly obstruct free flow of traffic, picking up passengers while on the road.
We expect the Commissioner for Information to convince publishers in Rivers State that the current administration means well for them, and that the administration will not preside over the demise of hitherto vibrant local press. Governor Wike appears to have good intentions but relevant stakeholders must be carried along. This way, nobody is left behind and the government will be seen as government of the people.
The commissioners are coming at a time when the state is faced with more questions than answers. Wike’s administration will not be able to solve all the problems of Rivers people in so short a time. However, genuine efforts in the right direction would be recognised and appreciated by the people just as they are responding to reconstruction of roads.
Each commissioner is expected to add value to governance in their own domains even in the face of limited resources, while trusting God for improvements on revenue allocations.

Mr. Okorie Chizindu – Public Servant
Well, we’ve been so much expectant of good change from our politicians. Right from the time Wike was elected, we’ve been expecting good things. So, we are expecting the new commissioners to work hand in hand with the governor to achieve the vision of the governor. We have seen all his efforts in road repairs and other areas. So, we are expecting the commissioners to work hand in hand with the governor to bring back the lost glory of the state. We want our state to re-acquire the “Garden City” status it was known for.
Here in Port Harcourt, we have serious issues of traffic congestion. The governor has also started the project of road repairing and constructing new ones, so we are expecting the in-coming Commissioner for Works to work together with the governor on road rehabilitation. We need better road network. The Commissioner for Power should work hard towards solving the epileptic power supply in the state. I will also urge the Commissioner for Youth to ensure that more youths in the state are empowered.
So, my own advice to the new commissioners is that they should see their positions as an enviable position. They should see it as an opportunity to serve the people who have confidence in them. So they should go there and represent us.

Mr. James Ekarika – Civil Servant
The new commissioners have been sworn in and it is our hope that they will help the governor to administer the state. They have a lot of things to do. We need development in the state. In a place like Andoni for instance, there are no roads, no developmental infrastructure. So, they should work hand in hand with the governor to bring about development in various parts of the state.
I believe that with good roads and conducive environment more investors will come into the state. The state has been loosing a lot of viable investors due to lack of good road, in security and other factors and we expect the commissioner that will be in charge of these to bring a lot of improvement in these areas so that more investors will be attracted and the state will be economically vibrant.
I will specifically want the Commissioner for Youths to reach out to the youths in the state, know their problems and ensure that these problems are given adequate attention so that there will be peace in the state. Many youths in the state do not have jobs and that is why they are always involved in one trouble or the other, creating bad image for the state. If they can create job opportunities for them, I believe the state will be calm, cultism will no longer be the order of the day.

Ani Joshua Maduabuchi – Civil Servant
I will want them to think of ways to move the state forward, they should find ways of creating more jobs for the teaming jobless youths in the state. There should be a way of carrying the youths along, so as to give them a sense of belonging. This will reduce crime rate and insecurity in the state. I don’t expect the governor to do everything in the state. He has appointed these commissioners and special advisers and it is now their duty to see that they perform in their various ministries so that the state will develop and move forward.
Talking about job creation, I will expect the commissioner for agriculture to take the lead in this. He should develop the agricultural sector so that the sector can absorb many unemployed persons. If we can invest sufficiently in agriculture instead of totally depending on oil, I think we can do a lot better. Whoever will be in charge of works and infrastructural development should not concentrate only on Port Harcourt City. Our rural areas need good roads, water and power.  I think they should work on that.

Mr. Abel Nwikomade – Businessman
I will advice the new commissioners to make good use of their offices. They should not be corrupt. They should give contracts only to the deserving contractors and follow up the contract to see that it is delivered. At the same time, they should think about the youths because if the youths have jobs, all these issues of picking pockets, kidnapping, armed robbery and other kinds of crime will not happen.
The most important areas that needs attention is education. If you go to some of the government schools now, the teachers are not there. You will only see the children playing up and down. Because of that, many people have removed their children from government schools to private schools, because they don’t teach well in government schools.
As a businessman, I will also expect the commissioner in charges of the business sector to see how he can organise soft loans for businessmen and women to help our businesses to grow. I will also want attention to be paid on the issue street trading in Port Harcourt. Because there are no standard markets, everywhere is Port Harcourt is being used as street market. Since Mile 1 market gutted fire many years ago, there is nothing. They just covered that place. And because many of Mile 1 market traders don’t have anywhere to stay, they now sell on the roads and streets. If you go to many of the streets within Mile 1 here, you will see people selling on the streets.
Likewise many other streets and roads, people are selling things everywhere and it doesn’t make the city look good at all. Take for instance Rumuokoro, everywhere around Rumuokoro round about is now market. Infact market is gradually taking over the entire road, thereby by causing heavy traffic jam everyday. Before you move from Rumuokwuta to Rumuokoro, it wil take two hours because everywhere there is market, market, market.
So, we want the Commissioner for works to look in the situation of Rumuokoro. We need a flyover there. The commissioners of work and transport should join hands and bring a permanent solution to the problem of traffic jam in Rumuokoro and other parts of Port Harcourt.

Mr. John Bigilar – Businessman
The commissioners should join hands with the governor to ensure a conducive environment for business men and women in the state. If the issue of multiple taxation and touting is handled it will make those doing business in the state to succeed more and encourage others to come and do business in the state. The Commissioner for Youths should also look into the issue of youth empowerment. Youths in the state need to be empowered for there to be peace and security in the state.