Stakeholders Rate Rivers High @54

As Rivers State celebrates 54th anniversary, today, following its creation on May 27, 1967, as a distinct geo-political entity from the then Eastern Region, some stakeholders have expressed their views on the position of Rivers State in the comity of states visa-vis its achievements, challenges and way forward. The stakeholders, in an opinion poll, harnessed by The Tide’s team consisting of, John Bibor, Akujobi Amadi, Taneh Beemene, Chinedu Wosu, Enoch Epelle, and coordinated by the Deputy Group News Editor, Igbiki Benibo, described the creation of Rivers State as the best thing that had happened to the minorities of the Niger Delta since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960. They also said that the creation of the state gave a voice to the oppressed minorities of the Niger Delta in the politics of Nigeria. Excerpts.

Eze Ndubuisi Nwankwo (Traditional Ruler- Eze Odinta Nanya): “The creation of Rivers State has brought good things to the people. The position occupied by Etche ethnic nationality today in the geopolitics of Nigeria would not have come without a Rivers State. Etche would have been subsumed by the bigger ethnic groups of the state. I commend the present administration in the state for living up to the vision of the founding fathers of the state”.
Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi (Eze Igbu Akoh II of Akoh Kingdom/ex-chairman, Ahoada East Local Government Area): “The creation of Rivers State has also brought unity among minorities in this part of the country. This would not have been possible if the state was not created. By the creation, development is now at the doorsteps of every community in the state. I commend the present administration for continuing with the vision of the founding fathers of the state”.
Eze Christopher Wonodi (Eze Mbam Abali/Eze Risi Ohia Rebisi Kingdom): “Successive administrations in the state have done well to bring to fruition the visions of the founding fathers of the state. Governor Nyesom Wike is a super-project governor; the present administration has lived up to the expectations of Rivers people in project execution”.
Eze Ken Onuoha Iwezor (Paramount Ruler/Nyeweli Mgbuesilaru/Rumukwuru-Okwurusi Kingdom): “The anniversary should serve as a moment of reflection on the vision of the founding fathers of the state. The state should reflect on where it was yesterday, where it is now, and it will be in the future. I commend Governor Wike for achieving so much in infrastructural development”.
Barrister Chika Aleruchi Wobo: “Well, it is a long journey to arrive at this very point. I think we have made tremendous progress as a state. We were blessed with good leaders such as governors from 1999 to the present day. Our governors have done very reasonably well in infrastructures development, but the major defects we are having is to see how the youths can be empowered. Manpower development is a panacea to peaceful co –existence, and the issue of power rotation has also been a problem here in Rivers State. I think the political class and the stakeholders should assemble and ensure equitable distribution of power and appointments for the good of the state.
An opinion leader, Elder Abraham ThankGod, said, “Actually, Rivers State is trying at 54 compared to other states of the federation. There may be little hiccups, but the state is trying, because Rivers State accommodates a lot of people who had come for the good and bad of the state. The resources that are meant for the state alone are now used for taking care of the entire population of the state.
“Rivers State is a golden state, if you are not there; you have not gone to anywhere. Yes, at 54, our children are educated, going to schools. Today in Rivers State, we have many professors, academics, doctors and professionals unlike before creation. Again, at 54, companies’ headquarters are located outside Port Harcourt, all in Lagos, making it difficult for our youths to access employment opportunities.
“At 54, the state resources can no longer go around due to population explosion. In terms of infrastructures, the state is doing well. On security, the state government should improve on protecting lives and property across the 23 local government areas. Community policing should be improved to reduce crimes and criminality”.
Logistics expert, David Ogbolodi, said, “At 54, Rivers State is progressing. In the area of sales and logistics, the state is progressing because of the construction of networks of roads and dualization of roads. We in that aspect are benefiting from that gesture to an extent. In security, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, inaugurated the Neighbourhood Watch vigilante outfit to complement the regular police to check crimes for the good of the citizenry. I call on the state government to improve on the employment backwardness and reduce the unemployment ratio in the state to curb crime rate. Job creation is a necessity for the teeming unemployed youths of the state to curb piracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and cyber crimes indulged by the youths”.
A businessman, Emmanuel Sunday Elee, said, “So far, so good at 54. In certain aspects, the state government is moving forward because the governor is trying, but on employment, government should do more to improve on job creation and redeem its pledge by employing the 5,000 youths he promised since last year.
“On security, government should improve on the security architecture of the state. There is poverty in the land; people are really suffering to eke a living, no jobs, and insecurity ravaging the rural communities, killings and abduction of innocent persons by hoodlums, cyber crimes by jobless youths. Graduates are roaming the streets of Port Harcourt seeking for means of livelihood every day, and young girls are taking to prostitution. The government should tackle this ugly menace of insecurity and lack of employment ravaging the state, and create gainful employment for the teeming youths.”
A civil engineer, Engr. Akintude Adewuyi, said, “As a resident of the state for over 20 years, yes, Rivers has achieved much at 54. It is a good thing, great thing, we must recognize this very time. The state had experienced insecurity, backwardness in areas of employment of its young youths. Actually, the governor is trying to put in place infrastructures such as the flyovers along Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, and other places, but we are still lacking a lot in terms of roads, drainages and good amenities for the citizenry.
“I think, we need to do more. The rate of unemployment should be curbed by creating employment and redeeming his pledge on 5,000 jobs to Rivers youths since 2020. The rate of unemployment has worsened in Rivers State. The governor needs to do more in this aspect to improve on employment generation”.
A clergy, Rev. Canon Friday A. Wosu, said, “Looking at the state creation 54 years ago, I think that Rivers State is now a matured child. Since the creation, Rivers State has made tremendous progress in terms of its economy, politics and religion. On the economy, the state is the economic hub of the nation with several oil wells and platforms, including higher institutions. In politics, we are also making progress, while on religion; so many churches have sprung up, making more people to worship God and reducing sinful acts.
“Of course, we have insecurity created by lack of jobs, employment for the youths. The state government under the able leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike should employ the youths and redeem his promise of engaging 5,000 unemployed youths into the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to alleviate poverty and reduce crimes. Insecurity for now is at its ebb in the state, and should be proactively tackled by the government in power.”
A trader, Madam Omasirichi Okocha Chinedu, said, “Rivers at 54, I congratulate the state government and its residents. I sincerely appreciate what the state governor is doing in terms of infrastructural development and building of roads, flyovers across the city. I call on the state government to provide jobs for Rivers indigenes to reduce poverty and crimes.
“I am appealing to the governor to empower Rivers women by giving them soft loans to start small-scale businesses to better their lives and families. Women and traders should be empowered economically by the government, granting them soft loans to start small business outfits.”
A politician, Hon. Achineke Jackson, said, “At 54, Rivers State is doing relatively well. I want the empowerment of youths across the state to better their lives”.
The General Overseer of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunwa, expressed the need to celebrate Rivers State at 54 years, especially with the present administration’s developmental strides in the state.
He said, “Though the development level has not marched the age of the state, but there is need to celebrate Rivers State at 54 years. If you look back to the state 20, 25 years ago, and compare it to the present state of this state, you can testify that there is an improvement, especially, because Governor Nyesom Wike is trying for Rivers State when it comes to infrastructural projects.
“There is need to celebrate all the projects put in place by the past governments, and the present one. The projects, including all the flyovers, I thank God for them. But there is need to do more. My concern about the country is that: do we have a working system? Does this system allow fast development initiatives? Does it allow people to do their best? We want a system that will drive human capital development, that is what we are praying for”, the cleric said.
On democracy, Izunwa said there is no evidence to prove that Nigeria is a democratic country.
“I don’t think we have democracy. I don’t even believe in our Independence. And I don’t think we have any country yet. If we have, we will know. Tell me what we have achieved that anybody would be celebrating. Nigeria is a prayer project; we can’t just celebrate a prayer project,” Izunwa added.
Also, the former chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya said Rivers State has a lot to celebrate, but the state also needs serious prayers to grow faster than it is.
He thanked Governor Nyesom Wike for renewing the state on a faster lane.
According to him, some visitors might miss their way in Port Harcourt, especially those who had not visited the state in the past seven years.
Ikanya said Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration has added value to the state, and gave reasons why the people should celebrate Rivers State at 54.
Furthermore, the Chairman-elect of Andoni Local Government Area, Barrister Erastus Awortu said, “If in the past, Rivers State had nothing to celebrate, under the present administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, people have reasons to celebrate the state at 54.
“What I know is that, Rivers State people have good reasons to celebrate the state, even if in the past, we had nothing to mark any progress in the state. But with the administration of Governor Wike, there is a lot to celebrate the birthday of the state.
“Look at the state in all corners, why will one say that Rivers is not far better than some states that were created alongside the state?” Erastus explained.
The Chairman of Akwa Ibom Community in Rivers State, Evangelist Francis Ekpima, said “there is excellent need to celebrate Rivers State”, saying that the state has been positioned for robust investment by Governor Nyesom Wike.
According to him, all bottlenecks hindering development in the state have been taken care of drastically.
He said Governor Wike has done massive expansion of the city through urban development to rural areas by dualizing and linking roads from urban areas to rural areas.
“Imagine, a governor building nine flyovers at the heat of Covid-19, when other state governments can’t pay even salaries. Soon, all the streets of Port Harcourt would be free from traffic jams. I am from Akwa Ibom State, but I have been resident in Rivers State for over 40 years today. So, I know how the state was, and I can say that Rivers State has a lot now to celebrate than before,” Ekpima said.