Activist Rates Wike High On Governance

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
An activist and social crusader, Dr Sofiri Joab-Peterside, has scored the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, 70 per cent in the delivery of good governance to the people of the state.
Joab-Peterside, who gave the assessment at a special forum organised by The Tide Editorial Board as part of activities to mark the Golden Jubilee of Rivers State, yesterday, also scored the eight-year government of Chibuike Amaechi second best, with  60 per cent.
He further rated the eight-year government of Dr Peter Odili, third best with 50 per cent, and the five-month government of Sir Celestine Omehia, fourth best, scoring it 40 per cent.
Joab-Peterside, who is also a senior lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, and Director, Prof Claude Ake School of Government  Studies, said his assessment was based on the respective government’s performance in various sectors.
He scored Wike high for the government’s commitment to the completion of strategic development projects initiated by his predecessor, as well as his ability to deliver on other mandates, such as payment of salaries of civil servants and allowances of pensioners, and execution of pro-people projects in spite of the lean internally-generated revenue-base and allocations from the federation accounts.
The scholar, who was also a foundation member of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), said that Wike has, over the last two years, shown the political will to promote continuity in government and consolidate on the gains of the positive policies and programmes of the previous administrations in the state, even when it was possible to break away from the past and launch a fresh start for his administration.
While assessing the performance of the governors of the state since the rebirth of democracy in 1999, Joab-Peterside, rated Amaechi’s administration above average, putting him at 60 per cent.
He based his assessment on Amaechi’s performance in the first tenure, arguing that the 15th governor made significant impact in massive infrastructure development of the state in virtually all sectors, from education to health, roads to power, agriculture to urban renewal and physical development.
The social development scholar scored the performance of Dr Peter Odili’s government 50 per cent, explaining that although the 13th governor of the state did well in delivering some strategic development projects to the people, especially the new Government House, state House of Assembly Complex, and Omoku Gas Turbine Station; but noted that his “flamboyant” government empowered inexperienced young politicians and witnessed high degree of violence and militarization of the political structures in the state.
On the 14th governor of the state, Joab-Peterside rated Omehia’s performance in delivering democracy dividends 40 per cent, adding that although the administration lasted five months; it had enduring impact on the lives of the people.
While expressing support for activities marking the Golden Jubilee celebration of the state, the university don emphasized that the people had reason to celebrate 50 years of the creation of the state, but quickly added that none of the past governments had formulated and implemented policies that promoted the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.