There was an increased number of activities in Government House, Port Harcourt, last week, apparently because it happened to be the last week of the year.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Monday,  presented N480 billion 2019 ,Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly for consideration.
The budget which is christened “ Budget of  Sustainable Growth and Development “, the Governor says will take as many Rivers people as possible out of poverty and improve the standard of living of the people.
According to him, the main thrust of the 2019 budget is to promote economic growth and diversification, create jobs and reduce unemployment.
It is premised on an oil price benchmark of 55 US Dollars per barrel, which is five Dollars lower than that of the Federal Government. It has N323, 288, 970, 085:00 as Capital expenditure, while Recurrent Expenditure will gulp N157,122,354,564: 15.
Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi – Owaji Ibani described the budget as one full of hope for the people of the state stressing that it  took care of all sectors of the economy.
Meanwhile, Gov Wike has urged Nigerians to use this year’s Christmas to promote love, friendship, peace and reconciliation.
In his Christmas message, the governor particularly  urged Rivers people to erect platforms of love, peace and reconciliation for greater development of the state, assuring that his administration will always focus on delivery of people- oriented projects.
He further assured of security throughout the period of celebration.
Still in the spirit of Christmas, wife of the Governor, Hon. Justice Suzzette Nyesom Wike, visited Christmas babies last Tuesday at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.
The Governor’s wife visited Baby Emmanuel Emeshe who was delivered by 12. 05 am and Baby  Ibia Goodness delivered by 12.20pm. The visit was in consonance with the established tradition of reaching out to mothers during Christmas and New Year.
She called on mothers to always persevere in looking after their families because God had put a lot in the hands of mother.
Similarly, the first lady of the state hosted hundreds of children at a Christmas party on 26th December, being the Boxing Day. She presented  gifts to the children from various local government areas of the state who were in the party held in Government House.
On the same Boxing Day, Governor Wike was in Etche to attend the Ogbakor Etche 2018 Convention.
Wike  made record as the first Governor to attend the convention in the history of convention.
The Governor was celebrated by the people of Etche nation because of the numerous projects  executed in both Etche and  Omuma local government areas as well as several appointment to sons and daughters of the area.
Wike received a special gift from Ogbakor Etche. He was assured of support for a second term in office.
Wike thanked the people of Etche for the strong support given to his administration and assured that he will execute more projects and appoint more Etche sons and daughters into positions of trust.
He noted that Etche Local Government Area was so large that even with the several road projects executed, it looked as if nothing was done and remarked that his administration will execute more road projects in Etche land.
In a similar manner, Gov Wike , assured the people of Ogoni that he will consolidate on his project delivery in the area during his second term in office.
Wike made the promise last Wednesday while commissioning the Akporo water project executed in the area by a member of the Rivers State  Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Williams Nzidee, in Khan’s Local Government Area.
Wike was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Engineer Emeka Woke.

Chris Oluoh