Featured

Wike: Garlands For Hard Work

Published

6 years ago

May 29, 2019

On May 29, 2015, successful candidates in that year’s gubernatorial elections in Nigeria took their oath of office, swearing to God before the people and the entire world to provide good governance and consequently change the socio-economic life of the people for the better.
Four years down the line, some have been outrightly rejected and thrown out of office by the people who gave them the mandate they mismanaged, others got their mandate renewed but not without an experience akin to that of the proverbial Carmel passing through the eye of a needle. Yet there are some others who got their mandates revalidated by an overwhelming popular endorsement.
Notable among the last category of States’ Chief Executives is the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike whose re-election in 2019 can be described as a fait accompli following from the avalanche of endorsements that attended his stewardship in the past four years. The endorsements which came in the form of awards, prizes and public proclamations and affirmations were mostly from credible, critical, dispassionate, impeccable, well-meaning and reputable individuals and organizations from not only within his sphere of service but across the world. No doubt, the Rivers State Governor can be said to be the most decorated State Chief Executive in Nigeria between May 29, 2015 and May 29, 2019.
Within the period under reference, Gov Wike won the Apostle of Peace Award, the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, irrespective of their party difference, christened him ‘Mr Projects’ ahead of the other 35 state governors in the country. In 2016, the Independent Newspaper named him the Man of the Year, the Authority Newspaper and the Sun Newspaper awarded him the Governor of the Year.
For the first time in the organsations history of award presentation, the Sun Newspaper found no one else worthy to receive its Governor of Year award in Nigeria in 2017 but the Rivers State helmsman.
In 2017, Governor Nyesom Wike won the award for the Most Fiscally Responsible Governor; the Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contributions Award, the Silverbird Group’s Silverbird Man of the Year; the New Telegraph’s Man of the Year; the Independent Newspaper’s Political Icon of the Year; and the Zik Prize for Good Governance among several others. And in 2018, he was awarded the Pillar of Sports in Africa by the International Sports Press Association, AIPs.
For the year 2018, Gov Wike as well won the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Prize for Outstanding Achievement In Leadership/ Infrastructure Development.
While many of these awards were delivered at organized and well-publicized functions and ceremonies several others were never celebrated.
According to Emma Okah, Lawyer and immediate past Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rivers State, ‘’ Governor Wike is seen as a man who prepared to govern and who saw big gaps in governance efforts of Rivers State. He came with solutions.’’ The former Commissioner explained that the governor ‘‘thus divided the state into sectors for the purpose of priority attention: Road Infrastructure, Rural Development, Health, Education, Housing, Economic Empowerment, Security, Administration and Justice, and Sports and recreation.’’
‘’ Observers and those who want to judge his(Wike)administration would have to base their opinions and observation on these laid down sectoral priorities,’’ he said, reiterating that ‘’ If they want to be sincere, they would agree that there have been tremendous activities in these nine sectors and His Excellency has won awards in many of these areas.’’
Speaking with The Tide in Port Harcourt, a legal practitioner based in the Rivers State Capital, Dr Chukwuma A.J. Chinwo described the awards and prize giving system generally as a means of recognition of excellence.
Dr Chinwo who is also a lecturer in the Faculty of Law of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt said even though the initiative has been abused, especially in Nigeria, it still has a valid place in the developmental efforts in society as it encourages hardwork.
‘’ Ordniarily, prizes and awards are supposed to be means of recognizing people who have excelled and ordinarily should motivate people who have been awarded to do better and for others to do more. So, awards and prizes are actually good motivators of development of society- for people who contribute their best in society,’’ he said.
He averred that there are many in Nigeria who have been undeserving recipients of awards, especially within the political class, as they usually paid for them with little or nothing substantial to justify their selection.
‘’Somebody is proclaimed the best governor, may be the best local government chairman and you go to the place where they preside and you don’t even see anything that is imaginative or transformational that this person had done and after that the man rests on his oars and says ‘‘don’t you know I was given that award?’ he lamented while called on award giving organisations to refrain from merchandizing in order to genuinely contribute to growth and development in the society.
Asked if he found any credibility in the awards given to Governor Nyesom Wike, the university don did not hesitate to say emphatically‘‘As for him, I will say yes.’’
According to Dr Chniwo,’’when we assess him from where we were and where we are, he deserves awards. I can say that. I keep telling people, if there’s nowhere Wike deserves award, he deserves award on Rivers State University’s transformation; he deserves awards on my own community, Oroigwe.
‘’ As a lawyer I travel round this state driving; he deserves award on road construction and we can’t deny him that.
‘’If you look at what we have here and where we’re coming from, Wike deserves award. If I have one, I will give him an award. As Chairman of Okpo Club, we have given him an award.’’
Going forward, the law teacher urged Gov. Wike to avoid the bug of complacency and relax on his laurels but to push the frontiers of his excellent performance in the past four years as there are still new grounds to break and more lofty heights to attain in the development efforts of Rivers State.
‘’For all he has done and the awards he has won, I only pray that he does not rest on his oars. This second tenure, we expect him to do far better and to look into other areas he has not moved into.
‘‘Rivers State needs industralisation; we need development in agriculture; we need in improvement. If we attain those things, peace will come, security will come.
‘’Nobody expected him to do everything in the first four years, but in this second four years, let him touch areas he has not touched and do better in the areas he has done before,’’ he advised.
Indeed, by his performance in the execution of the social contract he signed and swore by God to deliver on May 29, 2015, Rivers people have given him a renewed mandate as an expression of their confidence in his proven ability and capacity to manage their affairs and improve their lot.
As Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike therefore, breasts the tape at the finishing line of his first term and takes off the starting block for his second and final term in service to the people, nothing should motivate him better than the awards and prizes of excellence he had won and wears as badges of honour, encouragement, appreciation and inspiration to better the high standards he has already attained. The reward of hardwork, they say, is more work and that is the making of heroes and transformational leaders who have carved a niche in the history of their people.

Opaka Dokubo

Featured

PANDEF Hails Tinubu For Lifting Emergency Rule In Rivers

Published

1 week ago

September 19, 2025

The Tide

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has hailed the lifting of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

In a statement signed by Board members and National Executive Committee members, yesterday, PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu for rectifying what they described as an anomaly.

The statement was co-signed by Co-Chairmen, PANDEF Board of Trustees, Alfred Diette-Spiff and Obong Victor Attah, National Chairman Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, and National Secretary, Beks Dagogo-Jack.

Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on the 18th of March, 2025, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months in the first instance.

In place of the governor, the President appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as Sole Administrator.

However, Tinubu announced the suspension of the Emergency Rule on Wednesday, stating, “It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State shall end with effect from midnight today (Wednesday).”

The Forum commended Fubara’s unwavering perseverance and “faith in the divine will of Almighty God,” while also commending the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, the Speaker, and members of the House of Assembly, who were equally affected by the suspension.

“The Board and National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, the apex socio-political organisation representing the South-South geopolitical zone, joins millions of Nigerians in welcoming the lifting of the state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

“While PANDEF had expressed strong reservations regarding the erstwhile emergency rule, we commend His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for taking this bold step to rectify the anomaly.

“We welcome Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to his elected office and salute his unwavering perseverance and faith in the divine will of Almighty God. We extend similar commendations to the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Oduah, the Speaker, and members of the House of Assembly, who were equally affected by the suspension,” the statement read.

Addressing Rivers people, the forum declared, “Light has returned to the state and a new glorious dawn has come. A moment in which the bitter pains of the past months will inspire all to rededicate themselves to true mutual forbearance, new alignments and forward movement.”

They urged political leaders and citizens to put the past behind them and work towards the collective good of the State, while pledging to support Rivers’ developmental trajectory under Fubara.

“All hearts and hands must therefore be joined together to put the past behind us and work towards the collective good of the state.

“We look forward to the State’s return to normalcy and the resumption of its developmental trajectory under the leadership of Governor Fubara and his team. PANDEF reiterates its commitment to supporting the government and people of Rivers State in their pursuit of progress and development,” the statement added.

Featured

RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.

Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.

He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”

The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.

Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.

He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.

“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.

“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.

The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.

He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.

The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“

“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.

She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,

expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.

“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”

He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.

The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.

The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State

Featured

Rivers LG Poll: APC Wins 20 chairmanship seats, PDP Clears Three

Published

4 weeks ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.

According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.

APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.

The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.

Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.

Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.

Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.

Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.

Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.

The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.

Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas

Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.

National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.

John Bibor & King Onunwor