NEW Rivers Vision And Strategic Infrastructure Revolution

On Friday, May 29, 2015 at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, while delivering his Inaugural Address, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, raised hopes, made promises of a better future;and gave specific commitments, timelines and landmark pledges to a crowd of thousands of Rivers people and residents. He said “Rivers State has been rescued and reclaimed. It is a new day in our history, a new dawn to repair and restore our dear state to the path of sanity. I invite you all to the table of brotherhood for the new beginning. I reiterate my declaration that in the election, there were no losers and winners. Rather, Rivers State was the winner, and so, we are all winners.
“During the campaigns, we visited several communities in all the local government areas. We met with thousands of people, including civil servants, teachers, students, doctors, lawyers, traders, market women, the business community, pensioners and the unemployed. We were shocked by the level of despair, anguish, frustration, pains and worries on the faces of all those we met…
“As you know, every democratic government rests on a tripod. Good governance principles always dictate the supremacy of the rule of law as well as the equality, autonomy and interdependence of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Never is any one arm of government permitted to dominate, castrate or undermine the dignity, powers and relevance of the other arms…Let the freedom bells ring! Let the people shout for joy. Let them leap and sing to God…The vicissitudes of the old ignoble order have come to pass. Only the remnants remain…
“But this we promise. Never again, shall our people and our land be subjected to destruction and waste by those we mistook, perhaps, for builders…Thank God and providence. With the resilience of our people, we have recovered our land for the good of all…As we reiterated at several fora during the campaigns, our blueprint is an agenda of hope. We pledged to offer a New Rivers Vision based on a new thinking. Our goal is to make Rivers State a land of peace and prosperity with boundless opportunities and possibilities – a place where no one is left behind because of his or her station and everyone who works hard can achieve his or her life’s dreams. Please, be assured that we are committed to actualising our vision and mission already in the public domain”.
Over the last seven years, the hopes raised on that compelling stage have been sustained and promises fulfilled. Millions of Rivers people and residents who live and do business in the state, today, attest to this claim. A few testimonials may suffice!
For example, Wike said, “As a government, we humbly request and oblige you to hold us accountable for the following: We shall return power to the people as we conduct our common affairs with the fear of God and ensure that everyone is equal and accountable before the law. Our government will certainly be that of the people, for the people and by the people. Under our watch, the principle of separation of powers shall be operative. Equality and mutual respect for the constitutional status, powers and functions shall prevail among the three arms of government”. While at that podium, he announced the appointments of an Acting Chief Judge and President, Customary Court of Appeal, and swore both into office three days after on June 1. He followed due process of law in doing so! He also ordered the immediate reopening of the courts shut down for almost two years by the previous adimstration due to politically-motivated violence and strikes.
He began upgrade of infrastructure to boost the Judiciary’s efficiency and effectiveness. He built the Magistrate Court complex. He further built befitting quarters on owner-occupier basis for judges of the state origin to address accommodation crisis they usually face after retirement. He gave judges and magistrates Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) as official cars to ease transportation challenges. He built new edifice for the Federal High Court, rebuilt the Court of Appeal complex, and also built quarters for judges and staff of the Federal Judiciary. He further built an imposing structure for Federal Government-owned National Industrial Court. He also relocated the NBA House from the court complex to opposite Port Harcourt City Council Secretariat, and gave lawyers a befitting edifice there. Today, he is building the best campus of the Nigerian Law School, and another structure for the Nigerian Judicial Institute, with student hostels, staff quarters, recreational lounges and sports complexes.
He also inaugurated the eighth session of the state House of Assembly, and vowed to ensure the independence of both arms of government to guarantee checks and balances, a basic hallmark of a thriving democracy. He has built new quarters for the state lawmakers and a befitting residential accommodation for the Speaker.
After assuming office, Wike began delivering on his promises when he said, “Rivers State is a haven for tourism…Consequently, our tourism policy thrust is to provide a clear plan for the development of tourism, especially eco-tourism in Rivers State in partnership with the private sector.” He launched the development of Port Harcourt Pleasure Park. He built the facility, adding restaurant and bar, cinema, event centre, artificial lake, fountain, and many other amusement stuffs for children.
The governor also said,”Now that we have become victorious and have arrived at the home ward end of our beautiful water-side, it is time to work, to erect landmarks of progress and prosperity. Yes, it is time to deconstruct, reconstruct, rehabilitate and restore…our common wealth. Now is the time for us to rebuild: To rebuild our state; to rebuild our educational and health institutions; to rebuild our occupations, and to rebuild our infrastructure. It is time to provide new opportunities to maximally touch the lives of our people. It is time to restore hope.”
In all sectors, the deconstruction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, restoration and rebuilding agenda of the Wike administration has been manifest. He built a new Ecumenical Centre for Christians of all denominations to worship God under one roof. He also completed the last phase of the Rumuwoji (Mile 1) Market, reconstructed burnt Fruit Garden Market, constructed new Rumuokoro Market and Motor Park, and began building a new abattoir at Mgbuoshimini. He built more than 50 housing units for civil servants, and also built jetties to boost marine transport. He procured buses to increase the state’s fleet in road transport. He rebuilt the Produce House on Moscow Road, constructed new secretariats for Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). He completed the reconstruction, remodelling and equipped the world-class Port Harcourt Cultural Centre. He renovated two state-owned property, and completed the building of decades’ old RivBank building, which is being sold to earn revenue for the state. He recovered and placed for sale the Harold Dappa-Biriye House (former NDDC Headquarters). He also recovered and sold the 17-storey former Nigerian Stock Exchange building.
Wike said, “On healthcare delivery, we are determined to ensure that our people have access to affordable and quality healthcare. To achieve this objective, we will adequately rehabilitate, equip and staff all existing general hospitals and health centres across the state. As a permanent solution to the challenge of inadequate manpower, especially medical doctors, in the health sector, we shall establish and ensure the immediate take-off of a Medical School in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology”.
Today, the governor has strived to revitalise the primary healthcare system; improve the secondary health infrastructure and fortified the tertiary health sub-sector, including the establishment of a medical school in the state’s university to enhance training of health personnel for the state. He has upgraded the School of Health Science and Technology, and is partnering with the private sector to manage secondary health facilities and ensure efficient healthcare delivery in the state.
He renovated more than 17 existing primary healthcare centres and built three new primary healthcare centres at Bille, Mgbuosimini and Ogbakiri communities. He strengthened secondary healthcare sub-sector with the reconstruction of 12 existing but abandoned general hospitals. These include Abua General Hospital in Abua/Odual; Nchia General Hospital in Eleme; Isiokpo General Hospital in Ikwerre; Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor; Abonnema General Hospital in Akuku-Toru; Bodo General Hospital in Gokana; Opobo General Hospital in Opobo/Nkoro; Ngo General Hospital in Andoni; Emohua General Hospital in Emohua; Buguma General Hospital in Asari-Toru; Eberi General Hospital in Omuma; and Okrika General Hospital in Okrika.
Wike embarked on completion of four zonal hospitals inherited from the previous administration while initiating the construction of additional zonal hospital at Omoku. He also completed the zonal hospitals in Bori and Degema. Besides, he completed the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt; constructed 22 row. 3-bedroom Doctors’ Residential Quarters at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital; introduced N500million interest-free Private Hospitals Support Loan Fund.
In the tertiary healthcare sub-sector, Wike embarked on the upgrade of Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital to Teaching Hospital for the Rivers State University. To make it functional and compete favourably with others across the country, he procured and installed new equipment and facilities for the hospital. The hospital is now training medical personnel for the state, in addition to the novel financial support given to PAMO University of Medical Science to train Rivers youths in medical and related fields. Wike’s exceptional performance in the health sector is also evidenced by improved quality of healthcare in the state and deliberate approval of counterpart funds for other health-improvement and related policies and programmes by donor agencies, international support organisations and the Federal Government, designed to touch the lives of Rivers people. Today, the Maxilo-Facial and Dental Hospital at Garrison, and the Kelsey Harrison Specialist Hospital at Rumuwoji, Mile 1 are undergoing complete renovation and upgrade.
Wike also said, “As your governor, I will ensure that we build the infrastructure, including first-class all season roads, bridges, canals, jetties and other mass transit infrastructure that the state needs to drive socio-economic development. Specifically, we intend, subject to available funds, prioritise the completion of all on-going road projects; construct the Trans-Kalabari costal road network, dualise the Ahoada-Omoku road; Saakpenwa-Bori road; and Oyigbo-Afam road, among others. We shall also tackle the challenges of urban renewal, road congestion and traffic gridlock in PortHarcourt City, Obio/Akpor and other major population centres in Rivers State”.
To address these commitments, Wike completed almost all road projects started by the previous government. He constructed no fewer than 150 roads, some inherited from his predecessor while many were initiated by his government. All road projects inherited from predecessor have been completed and commissioned. Some started by Wike have been commissioned while some are still ongoing. By investing about 70percent of the State Capital Expenditure on road development, Wike has connected the entire state by completing all major roads inherited from past administrations with a view to improve the road network in urban/residential neighbourhoods and expand existing ones in the highly urbanised Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Aresas.

Cont’d from p.11

Indeed, Wike constructed many internal roads in communities across the 23 LGAs. These include Abonnema Town, Amadi-Ama, Elele-Alimini, Isiokpo, Elele, Ubima, Omoku, Okochiri, Ozuboko, Atali, Eneka, Odiokwu, Omagwa, Bori, Okrika, Eleme, Emohua, Ahoada, and a litany of urban neighbourhood roads designed to give facelift to Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor. The neighbourhood roads include those in Ogbu-nu-Abali, Diobu, Port Harcourt Township and Borokiri, Old and New Government Reservation Areas (GRAs), Trans Amadi Industrial Layout and adjoining communities, Rumuepirikom, Woji, and Abuloma. Others are Eliogbolo, Rukpakurusi, Eliohani, Oroigwe, Elimgbu, Elekahia, Rumuodara, Rumuomasi, Rumukalagbor, Rumuodaolu, Rumugholu, Ogbogoro, Ozuoba, Rumuosi, Alakahia, Mgbodo-Aluu, Oyigbo, Igwuruta, and Rukpokwu, among others.
Wike also dualised a number of roads in the state, some inherited from previous governments while some were initiated by his government. Such roads include the Saakpenwa-Bori Road which connects Tai, Gokana, Khana, Opobo-Nkoro and Andoni LGAs to the heart of the state capital (mentioned in his inaugural speech); and the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity Road started by the Odili administration. He has since completed both roads, and is working on the second phase of the Saakpenwa-Bori road, which takes the road to Kono. He has also completed the Woji-Elelenwo-Akpajo Dual Carriageway, connecting Port Harcourt from Peter Odili Road to Obio/Akpor and Eleme LGAs with two major bridges, an under-pass and a flyover. It was awarded by the previous administration in 2009 but abandoned in 2012. The road is an alternative route to Trans-Amadi-Slaughter Road. Besides that, Wike further completed the all-important Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Slaughter-Woji-Elelenwo Road, also awarded in 2009 by the previous administration but abandoned in 2013. Fitted with 16 telecommunication ducts on two sides of the dual-carriageway, the road has six bridges and seven exquisitely designed roundabouts with delicately placed walkways and gardens.
In addition, he completed the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Dual Carriageway, linking Obio/Akpor with Ikwerre LGA and the critical International Airport as an alternative route. It was designed by Governor Rufus Ada-George, awardedand began but abandoned by the previous government. He also completed the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu Road and Chokocho-Igbo-Etche-Rumuokurushi Road, both linking many agrarian communities. He completed Igwuruta-Eneka-Rumuokurusi dual carriageway, started but abandoned by the previous administration. Wike further completed the Federal Government-owned Igwurura-Chokocho Road, also linking many agrarian communities and abandoned for 20 years. He completed Iwofe-Rumuolumeni dual carriageway, awarded by the previous administration but also abandoned due to poor funding. He completed the reconstruction and dualisation of Creek Road, which was awarded by the previous administration but abandoned due to funding constraints.
Wike initiated and completed the Airport-Ipo-Omademe-Ozuoha Road in Ikwerre LGA that links many agrarian communities as well as two Nkpogu bridges abandoned by the previous administration in 2014. He completed the critical Eagle Island Road/bridge, which links Port Harcourt to Obio/Akpor, and takes traffic off the major Ikwerre Road but abandoned by the previous government, andcompleted the dualisation of Elelenwo Road. He commenced the construction of the phase one of Trans-Kalabari Road while construction work is ongoing on both Ahoada-Omoku and Oyigbo-Afam dualisation projects (all mentioned in his inaugural address).
When Wike made the first inaugural speech in 2015, there were only nine flyovers built over a space of about four decades. These include those at Isaac Boro Park, Kaduna Street, Rumuola, Air Force, Eliozu, Obiri-Ikwerre, Sani Abacha/Agip, Oil Mill/Eleme Junction, and Woji/Akpajo link road. Of all, the two single-lane flyovers at Kaduna Street and Rumuola Junctions were the worst engineering designs in recent memory. The flyovers created more traffic challenges for residents than there solved. Even so, successive governments since the military junta vacated governance in 1999 had proposed to construct flyovers, especially at Garrison, Artillery, and Rumuokoro, but none fulfilled their promises to the people.
But today, Wike has constructed the Garrison, Artillery and Rumuokoro flyovers and named them: Rebisi, Rumuogba, and Okoro-Nu-Odo flyovers. He also reconstructed and expanded the Rumuola and Kaduna Street Junction flyovers, and renamed them: Oro-Abali and Rumuola flyovers. He, therefore, wiped away the pains of four decades of pandering. In addition, he built a sixth flyover at GRA Junction on Port Harcourt-Aba road; and dualised Ezimgbu and Tombia Extension roads. The 7th flyover named Nkpolu-Oroworukwo; the 8th flyover christened Orochiri-Wurukwo bridge at Waterlines Junction;the ninth flyover at Rumuepirikom by Ada-George-Rumuolumeni roads’ intersection;and the 10th flyover named Elimgbu-Rumuokurusi flyover are at different stages of completion. Now, Wike is working on the commencement of construction on Location-Ada-George-Mgbuoba as well as Rumuokwuta flyovers, which would bring the number to 12. These would bring to the capital city a sustained aura of beauty, elegance, gigantic masterpieces, harmony, symmetry, order, inspiration and peace. Why? Flyover bridges help streamline traffic control system by helping reduce congestion, curb exorbitant vehicle operating costs and unquantifiable travel times. Less horizontal curvature reduces risk of off-road crashes. Besides, flyovers also help reduce the negative impact of stress, traumatic disorders; cardiovascular and neuro-psychotic challenges created by disorderly motorists and road users, as well as bad roads.
Wike also pledged to tap the benefits of the business sector. He said, “We appreciate that these are difficult times. But we are confident about the brightness of our future which begins today. The enormous natural and human resources, including oil and gas deposits, vast arable land, rich biodiversity and water resources, two sea ports, an international airport, two refineries, a petrochemical plant, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) company, a fertiliser company, numerous oil and gas companies and activities, a dynamic population and vibrant labour force, remain solid development sign posts on which to hinge our march of progress. Our collective quest for a prosperous future depends on making Rivers State economically strong and self-reliant. To realise this basic objective, we shall develop and implement an economic development blueprint that leverages on our strengths to make Rivers State the industrial hub of Nigeria in oil and gas, agriculture, maritime and tourism businesses.”
In his quest to fulfil this pledge, Wike encouraged and secured the relocation of headquarters of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The Rivers State Government acquired Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) 45pecent stakes in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 in Eleme for Rivers people. NLNG Train 7 is up and running and promises greater opportunities for Rivers people. The government is maintaining its interest in INDORAMA Petrochemical and Fertiliser Company Limited, and working to boost its participation in the oil and gas sector through encouragement of more companies to invest in the state.
He also said, “Additionally, we shall promote investment in partnership with private investors for the utilisation of our large reserves of kaolin, silica-sand for the ceramic industry; explore opportunities in wood processing and energise participation in large scale commercial farming, agro-allied business ventures and the promotion of a green economy”. In this regard, Wike revitalised the DATCO Integrated Cassava Processing Factory in Afam, and has promoted agriculture and farming in many ways.
On May 29, 2015, Wike said, “This administration envisages a state that should be the knowledge-base of the nation. To this end, we will give serious attention to the provision of quality education to all at all levels by improving budgetary allocation to the education sector. We shall also effectively implement the Universal Basic Education Scheme and demand total devotion and accountability from our teachers through effective monitoring and supervision. The era of throwing money at public education without the desired results is over. We intend to reintroduce a functional boarding system in public secondary schools and increase funding for research and innovation in our tertiary institutions. We will also fund a competitive local and foreign scholarship scheme for brilliant students of Rivers origin to enhance manpower development in critical areas of local and national needs”.
To achieve this, Wike embarked on the revival of the education sector. This has expanded access to quality education. In doing this, the administration increased budgetary allocation to the education sector, strengthened the implementation of Universal Basic Education, rehabilitated and equipped schools and improved infrastructure in tertiary institutions.
In the basic education sub-sector, the administration reconstructed over 175 primary schools, including classroom blocks, landscaping and the provision of water, toilet facilities and power generators; supplied furniture and equipment to over 100 primary and junior secondary schools; supplied sports and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to a record number of primary and junior secondary schools; provided training to basic education teachers across the state; and completed the construction of the headquarters building of the State Universal Basic Education Board.
In the senior secondary education sub-sector, the Wike administration upgraded more than 11 junior and senior secondary schools; cleared all salaries owed teachers and security contractors in the state’s secondary schools; and ensured the regular payment of salaries to secondary school teachers, pensioners and other staff.
The administration also subsidised the registration fees for Rivers State students undertaking the West African School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) and sustained provision of science equipment, chemicals, materials and consumables to all secondary schools in the state for WASSCE and NECO examinations. He also embarked on the reconstruction of over 13 secondary schools, furnished and equipped them. The reconstruction involved classrooms and teachers’ science and arts laboratories, sports and recreational facilities; dedicated water sources and power generator for regular electricity; perimeter fencing and gate for improved security; new hostel blocks and assembly halls.
The schools include: Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta; Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori; Nyemoni Grammar School, Abonnema; Government Secondary School, Ogu; Government Secondary School, Onne; Bonny National Grammar School, Bonny; Community Secondary School, Bille; Government Secondary School, Okarki; Western Ahoada County High School, Ahoada; Government Secondary School, Abua; Community Secondary School, Ubima; Model Primary School, Mgbuosimini, Rumueme; and construction of Model Primary School, Abara-Etche.
In the tertiary education sub-sector, Wike started improving the infrastructure at the Rivers State University. The administration improved the funding of the university which led to the accreditation of all programmes earlier denied accreditation. He gave approval for the recruitment of new staff at the Rivers State University. He also delivered key infrastructure projects at the institution, including Faculty of Law Building; Faculty of Management Sciences Building; Faculty of Science and Technical Education Building; and College of Medical Sciences Building. He also established and built three more campuses of the institution at Ahoada, Emohua, and Etche.

Cont’d from p.13

Other tertiary institutions have received key funding interventions. These include Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola; Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori; and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni. These efforts have led to improved infrastructure in the schools, with sustained funding from the state government.The Rivers State Government is upgrading Rivers State School of Nursing and Midwifery while a scholarship programme with the PAMO University of Medical Sciences to train 100 students of Rivers State origin each year for the next five years is on course.
Within the period under review, the Rivers State governor revived education at all levels, setting it on the path of growth. It has formed the foundation of the empowerment of Rivers people with the required resources to make profound progress.
Wike also said, “Besides, our new vision acknowledges the importance of sports and recreation to the socio-economic mobility of youths both within and outside the country. The global economy today has sports, recreation and tourism as the key pillars of development. For instance, football, basketball, boxing, athletics, generate huge revenue and resources for active participants. These activities are youth-based and they would attract the attention of our government to systematically promote them.”
To fulfil this commitment, the governor collapsed the wobbling Dolphin and Sharks football clubs into Rivers United, and funded the club to win laurels at the national and continental levels. He has hosted many international football competitions at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium to promote interest in football, boost tourism and revenue for the state, and has supported the Super Eagles to travel for international competitions and win trophies. Wike has also supported other national sports associations and teams to enable them excel. He remodelled and rehabilitated Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Sports Complex and Sharks Stadium. He initiated andcompleted construction of the Real Madrid Football Academy near the Yakubu Gowon Stadium at Elekahia to boost youth involvement in sports and enhance employment generation.
Wike also said, “On environmental protection, our mission is to create a responsible management strategy for the sustainable benefit of the present and succeeding generations. For us, environmental protection is a task that must be pursued with greater intensity, direction and clarity of vision because the environment is our common heritage and the foundation of our existence. In consequence, we will ensure that all relevant legislations and policies on the environment are enforced as well as ensure efficient and sustainable management of wastes through the collaborative efforts of stakeholders.We will further enter into strategic partnership with the Federal Government, oil companies and communities to clean-up polluted communities and adversely impacted sites as well as ensure the protection of vulnerable shorelines through land reclamation and embankment…”
Under Wike’s watch, the Federal Government ticked-off the clean-up and remediation of polluted sites in Ogoniland in line with the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report recommendations through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). The governing structures have been set up, the funding template instituted, and an environmental university is already approved by the Senate for Ogoni. SPDC has also withdrawn its operation from the area, and its facilities decommissioned. Clean water projects are ongoing. The soot pandemic has been addressed with deliberate effort to fight illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refineries in the state as strategic weapon to restore polluted environment due to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Identifies operators of illegal refineries are being neutralised, arrested and prosecuted, including some of those declared wanted by the governor. Three new modular refineries are in the works for the state, which will create jobs and wealth for the people.
On May 29, 2015, Wike stressed, “Fundamentally, during the campaigns, we also promised to secure our state. No government is worth any value if it cannot guarantee the security of lives and property. I assure you that never for a moment will our administration be a captive of politics, when it comes to public security. We have the political will to fight, defeat crimes and criminality in Rivers State. There will be effective coordination, collaboration and synergy with the Federal Government, the law enforcement agencies and our community leaders in the prosecution of the war against cultism, kidnapping and armed robbery. We urge our people to fully co-operate with us in this direction”.
To achieve this, Wike has invested heavily in efforts to fortify the security architecture of the state and support security agencies, including military and para-military institutions to perform their assigned, legitimate roles, seamlessly. He procured no fewer than 250 patrol vans, communication gadgets, protective vests, more than 40 gun and patrol boats, among others, for the federal security agencies to guarantee law and order, peace and security in the state. The police are better equipped now, and crime rate is at its lowest ebb. More infrastructures have been built for them, including in partnership with NDDC.
In addition, he set up the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency in 2018 to complement the efforts of the police, and prepare the state for the implementation of impending policy on state police while boosting community policing. But his desire to address the security lapses in some parts of the state through the agency has met with stiff resistance from the police and military high commands. Despite this, the government has continued to maintain law and order, and secure lives and property of residents.
Wike also said, “At this point, let me also assure our people that our government, and indeed Rivers State, will not be on a war path with the Federal Government. We will cooperate and meaningfully engage the Federal Government to develop the PortHarcourt International Airport to accommodate additional international routes and flight frequencies. We also commit to working with the Federal Government to complete the Bodo-Bonny and other federal roads, as well as ensure the optimal utilisation of the seaports in PortHarcourt and Onne for greater commercial and economic progress. We assure you that Rivers State will not only continue to serve as the Treasure Base of the Nation, but we will also ensure her beautiful people, will be equal partakers of the resources of the land”.
This pledge has resulted in the commissioning of the departure wing of the domestic terminal of the Port Harcourt Airport and completion of the arrival wing of the airport. It also led to the completion of the departure and arrival wings of the international terminal of the airport at Omagwa. All are operational today, with reasonable international and local routes and flight frequencies. Similarly, the seaports at Onne and Port Harcourt are now busy with cargo freights, boosting economic activities in the state. The Oyigbo-Eleme Junction section of the eight-lane Port Harcourt-Aba Road has been completed while work is ongoing on the Bodo-Bonny road. NDDC has completed and relocated to its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt, 20 years after the interventionist agency’s establishment.
Wike further sought the partnership of Rivers people and residents of the state to succeed when he said, “We told you when we were seeking your mandate, that our promises are our bond. Once again, our promise to you is that, we shall work tirelessly to actualise these goals, objectives and targets. But as human beings, we are not perfect and cannot lay claim to having all the answers to the problems and challenges confronting us as a state and as a people. This is why we shall need your wisdom, prayers and support in diverse ways because working together, we can do and achieve much more. We shall also call on you to make necessary sacrifices so that collectively, we can make Rivers State the place that we can all be proud of with confidence in the great possibilities ahead”.
As a lawyer, Wike knows that one of the ways to douse tension, heal the wounds and bring people together is by guaranteeing justice, equity, inclusion and fair-play for all stakeholders in the Rivers Project. For this reason, he has worked with all stakeholders to promote peace and security, justice and equity, inclusion and progress of all people living and doing business in the state. Even the opposition politicians have benefitted from this policy.
For instance, the governor offered Olive Branch in 2019 to opposition leaders to join the government as a precursor to restore security and secure peace in communities. Leveraging this window, Wike withdrew the murder charges against former factional chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Hon Ojukaye Flag-Amachree. Just last week, Ojukaye emerged first runner-up in the governorship primary of opposition APC in the state. Wike also withdrew attempted murder/criminal charges against former majority leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, and director-general of the botched Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation for the 2019 governorship election, Dr Chidi Lloyd, who has since returned to the PDP, and is today, chairman, Emohua Local Government Council. More opposition politicians have also returned to the PDP and are equal participants in the political theatre, thanks to Wike’s politics of accommodation.
By taking the lead towards showing genuine interest in reconciliation, peace and unity, Wike has exhibited exemplary qualities that if appreciated by the opposition, may address the difficult questions which successive administrations before now, had failed to provide answers to in the last seven years. Therefore, the NEW Rivers Vision project has delivered love, peace and unity in the state.Of course, Wike’s unity, peace and reconciliation policy will move the state forward in the race to increase jobs creation, economic boom and infrastructure development. This will translate to the realisation of the win-win policy for all Rivers people and residents, which Wike promised on May 29, 2015. Rivers State remains the winner!

By: Nelson Chukwudi