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Leaders Extol Wike’s Dev Strides …As Gov Receives 2017 Silverbird, The Sun Awards
Political and business leaders across the country have extolled the outstanding development strides of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike even as he continues to garner accolades and awards from diverse corporate organisations and institutions nationally and internationally.
The commendations poured in, last Friday night as the governor was enthroned the Silverbird Man of the Year 2017, after majority of Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for him following his nomination by the management of Silverbird Group.
Presenting the Silverbird Man of the Year 2017 award to the Rivers State Governor at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar described Wike as a worthy leader who was laying the right foundation for the rapid development of the state.
Atiku said: “I have witnessed virtually all administrations in Rivers State. I have not seen an administration that has done so much, within a short time as that of Governor Wike.
“Believe me; Governor Wike is laying the foundation for the prosperity of Rivers State and Nigeria. This is a remarkable achievement that I find difficult to locate in any part of the country. I congratulate the people of Rivers State for having you as a governor”.
The former vice president commended Wike for his efforts at connecting Opobo-Nkoro to the mainland, saying he was elated when the Rivers State governor showed him the road in the state’s projects compendium.
Also speaking, Chairman of Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike emerged the Silverbird Man of the Year on the strength of votes by the people.
“This award was voted by the people of Nigeria. In other words, it was earned. I am honoured to know a man called Governor Wike. He is a terrific governor, Mr Projects”, he said.
Murray-Bruce explained that Wike focuses on the development of the state through delivery of projects and programmes.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike assured Rivers people that he remains committed to the development of the state.
Wike said: “My commitment is and has been to promote, defend and advance the best interest of our people, and contribute to the progress of our state and nation.
“Today, I am very honoured to receive this award because it represents the very ideals that sustain my interest in public service”.
The governor said that his administration was inaugurated during a period of financial crisis, but he chose to be different, instead of giving all manner of excuses like the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.
“We refused to be daunted by the rot we inherited. Today, the testimonies are everywhere that Rivers State Government is working very well for our people”, he said.
Wike dedicated the award to the people of Rivers State for their support and prayers.
He also dedicated the award to his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike.
The governor said that the situation in Nigeria was precarious. He said that Nigerians have no choice but to work together in the interest of the nation.
The award also witnessed several other categories of the award.
Meanwhile, for the second year running, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has been honoured as The Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year.
He emerged as the Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year 2017, last Saturday, at an award ceremony held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Presenting the Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year award to Wike, Publisher of Sun Newspapers and former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said the Rivers State governor deserves the award in view of his outstanding performance.
He said that Wike made history by becoming the first governor to win the award back to back, and urged the Rivers State governor to maintain the tempo of development in the state.
He said that the Sun Newspaper is a platform that represents all interest groups in Nigeria, noting that it basically works for the growth and development of the country.
Receiving the award, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike assured that his administration will continue to deliver quality projects and programmes for the benefit of Rivers people.
He stated that he was determined to always make Rivers people happy by sustaining his performance.
The governor said: “We will continue to deliver quality projects and programmes for the good people of Rivers State. We will not lower our performance.
“All local government areas of Rivers State have been touched by the administration. It is either a school or hospital or road. Every local government area has one project or the other”, Wike emphasised.
He said the only way that the state will continue to defeat the Federal Government and the security agencies is the sustenance of the delivery of sustainable projects.
The governor added that the only state that can never be defeated is Rivers State, adding that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government’s only agenda is to rig elections, pointing out that the people of the state will resist any attempt to undermine the electoral process.
He said that Rivers State was developing very fast because all the people were working in unity.
After the award ceremony, a reception was held by Rivers people in honour of the Rivers State governor.
Speaking at the reception, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio said that Wike will be re-elected on the basis of his outstanding performance and not on the basis of party consideration.
Akpabio explained that the former Governor, Dr Peter Odili took Rivers State to Nigeria, while Wike has taken the state to the world.
He said: “We came here to celebrate a son of the Niger Delta and a humanist who believes in development”.
Also speaking, National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus described the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as a genuine development expert who has touched all areas in the state.
Secondus said one of the miracles of the Wike-led administration was the fact that Unity Road has been extended to Opobo Town and nearby communities.
Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Hon Zakari Mohammed said Governor Wike was a shining star that delivers on critical areas to improve the living condition of the people.
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Chibudom Nwuche said the award to the Rivers State governor was for the entire people of the state.
Nwuche said that in all the decisions that leaders take, they must always factor in the interest of the people.
In their separate speeches, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani and the Head of Service of Rivers State, Barrister Rufus Godwins praised the governor for providing the right leadership that has improved the fortunes of the state.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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