Profiling Rivers Chief Executives: An Impact Analysis

Rivers State was created by the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon, on May 27, 1967, and legitimised through Decree No. 14. It was carved out of the South Eastern Region. It is also referred to as the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation’.
The state is located in the now South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria, with a total land mass of approximately 11,077 square kilometres or 4,277 square miles. It ranks 26 in size, out of the 36 states of the federation. By the official figures of the 2006 Census, Rivers State had a population of 5, 198, 716, and was the 6th most populous state in Nigeria. As it celebrates 55 years of its existence, today, its estimated population stands at 7,303,924, with annual population growth of 3.5percent. In 2007, it ranked second in Gross Domestic Products (PPP) only to Lagos at $21.07billion, with a per capita income of $3,965.
Rivers State is an offshoot of the recommendation of the Henry Willinks Commission for special identity. However, another aspect of the commission’s recommendation for special development status has yet to be implemented, 55 years after creation. Indeed, the state was created to assuage decades of political marginalisation, address issues around the difficult terrain submerged by freshwater swamps, mangrove swamps and coastal sand ridges, and overwhelmed by hydrocarbons and other natural resources.
Of course, 55 years after creation, Rivers State is still struggling for justice and equity, simply because of its location as a minority ethnic entity in Nigeria’s South. With Port Harcourt as its capital, it is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. It has 23 local government areas for politico-administrative convenience.
The state’s strategic location has been a plus for its development. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean. To the North, it shares boundaries with two states: Imo and Abia. To the East, it is bordered by Akwa Ibom. To the West, its neighbours are Bayelsa and Delta states. It derives its name from the many rivers that border its territory. Rivers State is home to a variety of ethnic clans, including Abua, Andoni, Ekpeye, Engenni, Etche, lbani, lkwerre, Kalabari, Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni, Okrika, Ogoni, Ndoki, Eleme and Obolo. Its inland part consists of tropical rainforest. The coastal areas are decorated by mangrove forests and swamps typical of the delta environment.
Politically, Rivers State has had 10 military governors since creation 55 years ago. The first was Navy Commander Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, who administered the state from May 28, 1967 to July, 1975. He was followed by Maj-Gen Zamani Lekwot (July, 1975 to July, 1978); and then, Navy Commander Suleiman Saidu (July, 1978 to October 1, 1979). After the military coup at midnight, December 31, 1983, Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome was appointed military governor from January 1, 1984 to August 26, 1986; followed by Col Anthony Ukpo (August 26, 1986 to July, 1988); Group Captain Ernest Adeleye (July, 1988 to August 30, 1990); Col Godwin Abbe (September 3, 1990 to January, 1992); Col Dauda Komo (December 9, 1993 to August 22, 1996); Col Musa Shehu (August 22, 1996 to August, 1998); and Group Captain Sam Ewang, who administered the state from August, 1998, and handed over to the third civilian governor on May 29, 1999.
Similarly, six civilian governors have governed the state since its creation in 1967. They are the first democratically elected governor, Senator Melford Okilo from October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1983; Chief Rufus Ada-George (January, 1992 to November, 1993); Dr Peter Odili (May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007); Sir Celestine Omehia (May 29, 2007 to October 26, 2007); Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (October 26, 2007 to May 29, 2015); and the incumbent Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike since May 29, 2015. Except Okilo, all other past civilian governors, by their actions or inaction, helped realise or mar the dreams of the founding fathers. They, therefore, impacted positively or negatively in shaping the history of the state.
Legacies Of Past Governors
The first military governor of Old Rivers State, Commander Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, and his team of able men and women set the path for development in the state. An Ijaw from Twon-Brass in present-day Bayelsa State, carved out of the Old Rivers State on October 1, 1996, was 24 years, nine months, and 29 days when he was appointed military governor of the state on May 27, 1967.
He began his mission to realise the dreams of the founding fathers of the state in earnest, with determination and unwavering commitment to transparency and prudent management of scarce resources. He was guided by his deep taste for excellence, class and finesse. He built the Rivers State Government Secretariat, the tallest and biggest government secretariat in the country apart from the federal secretariat in Abuja: A cluster of about six units of nine storey buildings, including the Podium Block, and the principal secretariat, the Point Block, which is 17-storey high. The state secretariat is rated the tallest building in the South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The buildings beat other state government secretariats in the only competing states of Lagos and Kano. The secretariat, located at the heart of the city, is besides the Government House, Central Bank of Nigeria, Port Harcourt City Council Secretariat, state House of Assembly Complex, state and federal Judiciary complexes, Rivers State Police Command Headquarters, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited zonal office, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) headquarters, among others.
Besides the above, Diete-Spiff also built the Rivers State Sports Complex, which comprises the present day Sharks Stadium and Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre. He built the Olympia Hotel, Presidential Housing Estate, and began building the state high court complex. Diete-Spiff also built the state Psychiatric Hospital at Rumuigbo, general hospitals in all the local government headquarters, and established state-owned companies such as Metaloplastica, West African Glass Industry (WAGI), Pabod Breweries Company Limited (PBCL), Rivers State Vegetable Oil Company (RIVOC), Risonpalm, Superbod Stores, and Pabod Finance and Investment Company Limited (PFICL), as well as Eastern Wrought Iron Industries Limited (EIWIL), among others. Almost all the companies closed shop under the Gen Sani Abacha’s draconian rule and uncertain business environment between 1993 and 1998. In fact, the only surviving ones today – WAGI, PBCL, RIVOC, Risonpalm, Superbod Stores (now PH Mall) – have been privatised.
Diete-Spiff selected the best brains to man the various ministries, departments and agencies of the government, and made significant milestones in virtually all sectors. He is reputed for awarding foreign scholarships to hundreds of Rivers sons and daughters to study various courses that could help realise the dreams of the founding fathers, and established most of the best educational institutions in the state till date. Among them are the Rivers State College of Science and Technology (renamed Rivers State University of Science and Technology by Okilo, and now changed to Rivers State University), facilitated the establishment of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, gave identity to the Rivers State School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rivers State College of Education, (renamed Ignatius Ajuru University of Education by Amaechi), teacher training colleges, and Rivers State School of Health Technology, among others, which have impacted positively on the socio-economic and political development of Rivers State.
In addition, Diete-Spiff established the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), and Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC). His administration further established New Layout Market in Old Port Harcourt Township, and the Port Harcourt Zoological Park at Okujagu-Ama. He handed over the reins of power in the state to Maj-Gen Zamani Lekwot in July, 1975. But till date, posterity continues to judge Diete-Spiff’s nine-year government fairly as the best that had pursued, with vigour, the realisation of the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
Having taken over in July, 1975 under the new head of state, Gen Murtala Mohammed, Zamani Lekwot’s government took off from where Diete-Spiff had stopped. His three-year regime saw an attempt to consolidate the gains already made by his predecessor. He strived to complete some of the critical infrastructure development projects started by Diete-Spiff. Lekwot commenced building the stadium project, initiated by Diete-Spiff, which he also relocated to Elekahia. He further built the imposing Rivers State Liaison Office in Lagos.
With the assassination of Murtala Mohammed, and take over by Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, Navy Commander Suleiman Saidu was appointed military governor of the state in July, 1978. Within the short spell of one year and three months as military governor, Saidu worked hard to make some impacts on the state. He initiated some road infrastructure development projects, just as he began tenacious efforts to complete numerous projects he inherited from his predecessor. But history would pen his name in gold as the first military governor to hand over power to the first democratically elected governor after 12 years, four months and five days of the state’s creation, on October 1, 1979.
Chief Melford Obiene Okilo was that first civilian governor of Rivers State. He governed the state for four years, and three months. He dusted the Diete-Spiff masterplan, laced with a dream to make the state stand out in the comity of states, and began implementing a deliberate policy of massive projects that included canalisation of some creeks in the state. With this policy, massive swamps were reclaimed, including Borokiri, for development purposes, just as several road projects were embarked upon to give deserved facelift to the state. Apart from the more than 350 housing units built across the state to provide accommodation for the teeming population of particularly civil servants, Okilo also engineered and managed the construction of the Kolo Creek Gas Turbine Station in the present Bayelsa State to enhance electricity supply to the people.
Okilo also played a monumental role in developing education infrastructure and enhancing human capacity to drive economic growth and development in the state. To this extent, he converted then College of Science and Technology built by Diete-Spiff to Nigeria’s first science and technology university in Port Harcourt. He did not end there. He also upgraded the state College of Education to a degree-awarding institution, and built many primary and secondary schools. Okilo’s landmark momentum was cut short by the Gen Muhammadu Buhari/Tunde Idiagbon coup of midnight December 31, 1983, which returned military rule to Nigeria.
Following the coup, Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome, who later became assistant inspector-general of police, was appointed to take charge of governance in Rivers State on January 1, 1984. He served until August 28, 1986, becoming the fifth governor of the state. He ruled for two years and seven months. Oyakhilome accelerated the development of agriculture by realigning the state to its original economic prowess as the agricultural melting pot of Nigeria. To drive this template, he established the School-to-Land Programme in Iriebe, Community Block Farming Programme in Etche as well as the Skills Acquisition Programme in the state. He also signed the edict establishing the Rivers State School of Basic Studies, which later was renamed Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Rumuola. Today, the school is now Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic. He embarked on other development projects in many sectors of the economy. He coordinated and drove the Mile One Flyover project to a reasonable state of completion.
Col Anthony Ukpo, who retired as brigadier-general, was appointed military governor of the state on August 28, 1986. He ran the affairs of the state until July, 1988. As the sixth governor of the state, Ukpo governed the state for nearly two years. He inaugurated the provisional council of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori (now Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic), and established the Rivers State Accelerated Integrated Rural Development Programme. Ukpo also initiated the Ndoki Waterfront Housing Estate, CARNIRIV 88, and laid the foundation stone for the construction of Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori. He also completed the Mile One Flyover project.
After Ukpo was dropped in July, 1988, Group Captain Ernest Adeleye was appointed as the seventh governor of the state. Within the two years and one month he held sway as governor, Adeleye signed the edict establishing the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori; commissioned the Marine Base Housing Estate, and initiated the Flying Doctors’ Scheme. His administration came to an end on August 30, 1990.
On September 3, 1990, Col Godwin Abbe, who later retired as major-general, became the eighth governor of Rivers State. He served for one year and four months, thus leaving office in January, 1992. Abbe’s regime witnessed many milestones in infrastructure development of the state. These landmarks include the magnificent Government House Auditorium, the Green Verge Housing Estate, as well as the Aggrey Road Waterfront Housing Estate. He also initiated the popular Eagle Island Water Scheme, and numerous other infrastructure projects.
After the Gen Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s junta organised governorship elections across the country, Chief Rufus Ada-George took over as the ninth governor of the state in January, 1992. As the second civilian governor of the state, Ada-George was forced to leave office by the June 12 imbroglio and the Gen Sani Abacha-led coup in December, 1993. He served for a year and 10 months. He is reputed for according priority to road infrastructure and housing development in the state. He opened up the city of Port Harcourt and the adjoining communities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area through many link roads, including the now Peter Odili Road, Ada-George Road, the NTA-Mgbuoba-Airport Road, and the Okujagu-Woji-Akpajo Road, among others. However, his brief administration had to abandon the roads at different levels of conception and execution. He also embarked on maintenance of existing roads and built some housing estates in the local government headquarters. But the success of the administration was punctuated by the high security challenges it faced owing to numerous communal conflicts and violence across communities in the state.
With Abacha’s take over arising from consequential unease and tension following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, and disturbing breakdown of law and order in Ogoniland, triggered by the gruesome murder of five prominent leaders of the area by a mob under the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) led by environmentalist and playwright, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa, and its youth wing – National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), led by Dr Goodluck Diigbo – the military junta deployed no-nonsense Col Dauda Musa Komo on December 9, 1993, to manage a state of emergency, crush the seeming uprising and punish those against Federal Military Government’s position in Rivers State. Komo, the tenth governor of the state, ran Rivers State like a garrison command and occupation force, and left office on August 22, 1996, after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and three other activists by hanging on November 9, 1995.
Although Komo’s tour of duty was basically to restore peace and stability to the state, which he professionally achieved at the expense of many lives, monumental social dislocations and humanitarian crisis, not just in Ogoni, but also across most other communities, he further embarked on the construction of some roads through direct labour. In fact, he supervised the construction of the Kaduna Street and Rumuola junction flyover projects on Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway. He also initiated the Neighbourhood Water Scheme that resonated across the state, and gave a touch of life to many public healthcare facilities, primary and secondary schools.
Col Musa Shehu took over as the eleventh governor of the state in August 22, 1996. He left office on August 13, 1998. Shehu tried to bring human face and compassion to his administration through confidence building, and most times, policies that tended to appease rather than force compliance. To this end, he reinstated some 143 civil servants unceremoniously sacked by Komo, and worked hard to make labour a friendly partner in governance. He gave priority to rural electrification, completion of road projects and rehabilitation of existing ones, integrated water supply, and also gave facelift to public schools and health institutions. He built the Obi Wali Integrated Cultural Centre on Abonnema Wharf Road. In fact, it was Shehu’s administration that renovated the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, and upgraded the facility with the installation of a modern kidney dialysis machine. He further renamed the Civic Centre Complex as Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, and pursued with vigour, a deliberate policy to eliminate illegal oil bunkering and adulteration of petroleum products, which had impacted negatively on the socio-economic lives of the people.
Following the mysterious death of Abacha and take over by Abdulsalami Abubakar, Shehu was removed, and Group Captain Sam Ewang was appointed as the twelfth governor of the state in August, 1998, and served for about nine months. Within the short tour of duty as governor, Ewang reduced the school fees charged by public secondary schools, and also paid the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for all senior secondary school students of Rivers origin. Although he had a running battle with civil servants over welfare issues, including their demand for salary raise, Ewang managed the storm, and built 500 detached housing units for government workers in the state. He also struggled, and repurchased, for the government and people of the state, the defunct Pan African Bank corporate headquarters building by Superbod Stores on Azikiwe Road, which was almost sold out to private interests.
With the effective return of democracy and election and swearing-in of Dr Peter Odili on May 29, 1999, as the thirteenth governor of Rivers State, and third civilian to run the state government, a new renaissance in governance and commitment to realising the dreams of the founding fathers of the state was re-enacted. He recorded significant successes in many sectors, from education to health, road, rail, water and air transport, power generation and electricity supply, sports, culture and tourism, road infrastructure development, housing, urban renewal and physical planning, and also gave human face to civil servants’ welfare, promoted peace and security, and opened a new chapter in the history book of the state judiciary.
Indeed, Odili built the Omoku, Trans Amadi, Eleme and Afam power stations, and installed the first-ever state-owned power transmission line from Omoku to Trans Amadi Main sub-station in Port Harcourt. He built housing estates for civil servants on Aggrey Road, Creek Road, D-Line, Iriebe, and more than 5,000 low cost housing units across the 23 local government headquarters. In addition, he raised state workers’ minimum wage and ensured the payment of Christmas bonus to every government worker. He expanded and rebuilt the state Government House, with a Presidential Lounge, Banquet Hall and Chapel. Odili also procured tractors and harvesters for agricultural cultivation, fire fighting trucks for the state fire service, Rivline buses for road transport, boats for marine transport, helicopters, private jet and air ambulance for air transport operations, and supported rehabilitation of the rail tracks, just as he procured new coaches to enhance rail transport for school students. To further reduce traffic congestion on the roads Odili installed traffic lights at strategic junctions on streets and major roads in Port Harcourt City and its environs.
Apart from building a housing estate for the state lawmakers on Aggrey Road, which was rejected for security reasons, Odili also built about the best House of Assembly complex in Nigeria on Moscow Road, built Obio court complex, resurfaced Station and Azikiwe Roads, Aggrey Road, linked Slaughter on Trans Amadi by road to Woji and Elelenwo, with two bridges, constructed Air Force flyover and Olu Obasanjo Bypass, linking Rukpokwu to Port Harcourt-Aba Road. He also expanded and dualised Ikwere Road from Education Busstop to Rumuokoro and Rumuokoro to Port Harcourt Airport. He further resurfaced Elelenwo and Woji roads, constructed Peter Odili and former Stadium Road (Ken Saro-Wiwa Road), and rehabilitated Wimpy-Iwofe Road, among others. Odili also initiated and commenced construction of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo link road (Unity Road), Trans Kalabari Road, Okrika Ring Road, Ada-George Road, Okujagu-Woji-Akpajo Road with two bridges, and the resurfacing and rehabilitation of many others across the state.
The governor gave new impetus to education infrastructure development, with deliberate upgrade to state public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, including the Federal Government-owned University of Port Harcourt. Odili acquired the Sani Abacha House on Port Harcourt-Aba Road, renamed it Chief Harold Dapa-Biriye House, and handed it over to house the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). With the relocation of NDDC to its permanent headquarters on Eastern Bypass, the state government has placed the building for sale. He also gave a new identity to Dolphin and Sharks football clubs and they roared and won laurels, grabbing the Premier League and Champions Cup titles. During his tenure, the governor invested so much in security and restoration of peace as the state was riddled with communal conflicts, unrest and cult-related violence and killings in many local government areas, including Andoni-Ogoni, Ogoni-Ogu, Ogu-Eleme, Okrika-Eleme, Ogbakiri, Abual/Odua, Ibaa-Obelle, Ikwerre-Okrika, and Abuloma-Amadi-Ama, among others.
After his eight-year tenure, Odili handed over to Sir Celestine Omehia on May 29, 2007, as the fourteenth governor of the state. Omehia governed the state for just five months. Within that period, he made significant impact on the lives of the people, with the initiation of laudable policies and execution of pro-people projects. He initiated and commenced construction of Mile One ultra-modern market, Eliozu flyover, and Eleme Junction Interchange. He also began construction of a shopping mall at GRA Junction, and took it to 80 per cent completion. Omehia further faced the challenge of insecurity, and fought cult-related violence, kidnapping and hostage-taking to a reasonable level. He was the darling of civil servants and gave them hope, but his government was aborted by a Supreme Court judgement on October 26, 2007.
Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the fifteenth governor, was sworn-in on October 26, 2007. He governed the state for eight years. A paradigm shift in infrastructure development in all sectors overwhelmed his administration. In the roads sector, Amaechi initiated and constructed some 170 roads, which added more than 800km to the existing 1,000km since 1967. On the roads were 30 bridges. Of these, 10 were new road dualisation projects, which added to existing six since 1967, out of which only two were real dual carriageways. He completed the dualisation of Port Harcourt-Owerri Road from Airport Junction to Omerelu. He expanded the Eleme Junction Interchange and Eliozu flyovers, and completed both. He rebuilt the Air Force-G.U. Ake flyover. He initiated and completed two other flyovers at Sani Abacha/Agip intersection and Obiri Ikwerre. Amaechi also executed five reclamation, shore protection and dredging/canalisation projects.
In the education and health sectors, Amaechi began construction of 350 ICT-based model primary schools and 23 model secondary schools in the 23 LGAs. Some 70per cent of the primary schools were completed, the rest were abandoned, just as only about five of the secondary schools were completed, while the rest were abandoned. In the health sector, Amaechi added 150 primary health centres to the existing 45 since 1967, completed three secondary health facilities, but abandoned projects for two tertiary health institutions. He completed the 933-shop-Mile One market commenced by Omehia, and also started and completed the 1,028-shop Port Harcourt Town Market. He commenced but abandoned both Motor and Electrical Spare Parts markets at Akpajo and Iriebe, respectively.
Under public-private partnership (PPP), Amaechi started the high-brow Rainbow Town Estate, completed the Silverbird Galleria, and Integrated ICT Centre in Port Harcourt. He further added two modern structures to boost infrastructure deficit at the state Judiciary complex, rebuilt the Cultural Centre Complex on Creek Road, and constructed Obi Wali International Conference Centre on G. U. Ake Road, among other projects in different sectors, including sports with Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, and mini-sports facilities in Port Harcourt Township. He began a diversification initiative through agriculture revolution, investing hugely in modern farms in various local governments, including cassava processing factory.
Chief Nyesom Wike is the sixteenth governor of the state. He took over reins of power on May 29, 2015. Seven years after assumption of duty, Wike has impacted positively on the infrastructure landscape of the state. He began his tenure by completing virtually all strategic projects initiated by Amaechi, except the monorail.
Wike completed the Trans-Amadi road, Peter Odili-Woji-Akpajo road, Nkpoju-NLNG road, Slaughter-Woji-Elelenwo road, Rumuokurusi-Elimgbu-Eneka-Igwuruta road, Obiri-Ikwerre-Tam David-West-Airport road, Iwofe-Rumuolumeni road, Elioparanwo road, Iloabuchi-Eagle Island link road, Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni road, among many others across almost all the local government areas. He also resurfaced existing but dilapidated roads. He further constructed some new roads, including Saakpenwa-Bori road, and currently working on Trans-Kalabari road as well as Bori-Kono road, among others. He has completed durable internal roads in many communities, including Isiokpo, Elele, Odiokwu, Bori, Eberi, Okehi, Elele-Alimini, Emohua, Ahoada, Omoku, as well as Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, among others. In all, Wike has added hundreds of kilometres of roads to existing ones, most of the roads deliberately dualised in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor to open the city to accelerated business opportunities.
Apart from the roads, Wike has added new momentum to the road infrastructure signature in the state by building 12 flyover bridges in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City. Of the 12 flyover bridges, six have been completed, including Oro-Abali, Rebisi, GRA Junction, Rumuola, Okoro-no-Odu, and Rumuogba. Work is ongoing on Orochiri-Worukwo, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Elimgbu-Rumuokurusi, Rumuepirikom-Ada-George Road, and the new additions: Rumuokwuta-Ikwerre Road, and Location-Mgbuoba-Ada-George Road flyover bridges. With 12 flyover bridges, Wike is reputed to have constructed the highest number of flyovers in the state, doubling Amaechi’s record.
In the health sector, Wike has also set records. He built Mother-And-Child Hospital at Rumuomasi; Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, zonal hospitals at each of the senatorial districts; and rehabilitated general hospitals at the 23 local government headquarters. He has also renovated secondary health facilities inherited from previous administrations. In the education sector, Wike has focused on reconstructing and remodelling abandoned schools in the local government areas to give education a new lease of life, and added new edifices to the facilities at the Rivers State University at Nkpolu. In addition, Wike has constructed new campuses of the Rivers State University at Ahoada, Etche and Emohua. In sports sector, Wike built the Real Madrid Football Academy.
He has constructed official residential quarters for members of the state legislature, and built office complexes for judges of the state and federal high courts, magistrates, Court of Appeal, National Industrial Court, NBA House, as well as residential quarters for state and federal judges, and some staff. This is in addition to the provision of official vehicles to some members of the Judiciary. He is also building the Port Harcourt campus of the Nigerian Law School at Rumueme, as well as the Nigerian Judicial Institute, and state-of-the-art hostels for law students.

By: Nelson Chukwudi