Dissecting Rivers Gains

By: Reward Akwu

Since the return of the democratic rule in Nigeria on May 29, 1999, which birthed the 5th Republic, Rivers State as a federating unit in Nigeria has recorded substantial progress from successive administrations in various sectors of governance.
Nevertheless, every human activity, including governance, cannot be entirely satisfactory given the imperfection of man. But what is very crucial is the commitment of a leader to the well-being of the people who have entrusted him with their mandate for a given period.
While I appreciate the laudable contributions of the past governors of Rivers State to both infrastructure and human capital development of the state,  I shall confine myself  in this write-up to what Governor Nyesom Wike has done to make life more meaningful for Rivers people and other Nigerians who are resident in the state.
A fair and objective appraisal of Governor Wike’s government from May 29, 2015 to date will reveal a definitive testimony of dedicated, visionary and progressive leadership that has made Rivers State a destination of choice.
The weeks of prejects inauguration, which often witnessed an array of dignitaries such as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, governors, elder statesmen and traditional rulers had been rightly regarded as the most exciting and audacious defining moments of the last seven years.
The accolades showered on Governor Wike by these eminent Nigerians coupled with a robust display of the rich cultural heritage of the communities visited to commission projects have become a reference point in projects inauguration in the country.
In line with his urban renewal programme, the capital territory of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor is undergoing massive construction works which include dualisation of roads, underground drains, sidewalks, in Old and New Government Reservation Areas (GRAs).
Also, works are ongoing with the Rumuepirikom, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Orochiri-Worukwo and Elimgbu-Rumuokurusi flyover projects after the commissioning of Rebisi, Rumuogba, Okoro-nu-Odo, Abali, Rumuola and GRA flyover bridges some months ago.
Apart from the on-going projects within the capital territory, the governor had completed and commissioned a large number of projects during his first tenure which earned him the sobriquet, Mr Projects, from no less a personality than the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.
Among the projects were Trans-Amadi Road, Justice Iche Ndu Road, Patience Jonathan Road, Ogbogoro Road, Choba-Rumuparaeli Road, Alakahia Road, Rumuosi Road, Prof. Tam David West Boulevard, Okoro-nu-Odo Motor Park/Market, etc.
The governor is not oblivious of the fact that the resources of the state are meant for the generality of the people of Rivers State. Therefore, he has also given attention to the rural dwellers by embarking on projects that would improve their standard of living.
The Opobo-Andoni Road that will link the coastal communities with the upland is work in progress. In fact, for the first time in centuries the indigenes of the ancient kingdom of Opobo, last year, drove home in their vehicles.
The second phase of Isiokpo internal roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area has been completed and commissioned as well as the Rumuji – Ibaa – Isiokpo Road in Emuoha and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
Also, the Omoku-Egbema Road in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Bolo internal roads in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Isiodu Road in Emuoha Local Government Area, Aluu-Rumuekini Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Real Madrid Academy have been completed and commissioned.
The first phase of the Kira-Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono dual carriage highway that cuts across three Local Government Areas in Ogoni land has been completed while work is on-going with the second phase of the project.
Similarly, the Ehuda-Odioku-Anwunugboko-Ubeta-Ihuechi- Odiereke Road, Odioku internal roads in Ahaoda West Local Government Area have been completed.
The Sime-Eteo-Nonwa Road linking Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas and the Omuma Road in Omuma Local Government Area have also been completed.
Governor Wike has equally made a tremendous impact in Health sector. Last year, the Rivers State Government commissioned the state-of-the-art Government House Clinic that has been rated highly by many dignitaries that visited the state, including former Governor of Imo State who is also a serving senator, Rochas Okorocha, former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.
Unveiling the Government House Clinic, Senator Saraki commended Governor Wike for his massive investment in critical infrastructure to jump-start sustainable transformation of the state.
He said that the governor’s decision to build the world-class clinic was a demonstration of his commitment to make Rivers State the infrastructure hub of Nigeria.
According to him, with such bold initiative, the state would reclaim its status as the destination of choice for investments in key sectors of the nation’s economy.
He advised other governors to emulate Governor Wike on the delivery of quality infrastructure projects in their respective states as a means of ensuring good governance to Nigerians.
The immediate past Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewill Chike, gave a summary of the impressive components of the clinic with the following words.
“The clinic is fully equipped with Operating Theater, with a Monitored Recovery Room; C-Arm for Fluoroscopy; Top End Anesthesia Ventilator and Equipment; One Fully Equipped ICU Room with isolation requirements; latest ventilator and monitoring system; two Emergency Rooms, with oxygen and compressed air outlets, monitoring defibrillator and portable ventilator; Consultation Rooms; fully equipped Endoscopy Suite for intervention in all endoscopes (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and bronchoscopy), with Electrocautery and Argon Gas and coagulation; fully Automated Cleaning and Drying of Scopes, to minimize infections and prolong longevity.
“The new clinic also boasts of the latest 1.5 Tesla MRI General Electric; 64 slice CT scan General Electric; Ultrasound with different probes (cardiology, abdominal, vascular, OBS); Digital X-Ray; fully equipped Laboratory, independent with high tech machines for haematology, chemistry, hormonal studies ELISA and chromatography, cultures, microscope, blood bank and many other tasks.
“It also has a well stocked Pharmacy with medication storage area; friendly facility for disabled/physically challenged people; sterilization autoclave machines; automated water treatment machine UV and De-ionizer; One OBS room; 4 double bed rooms (total 8 beds), all equipped with a portable monitor with telemetry realtime transmission of all patient’s vitals to the central nurse station in the ward; One VIP lounge and room with continuous monitoring Wi-Fi as well 24 hours ambulance service.
“All the equipment, monitors and desktops are connected through a computerized integrated system linking the Radiology with the Laboratory and the Electronic Patient Records, that can be checked and managed on-site, but also remotely, anywhere in the world, using an authorized access.
“Finally, the new clinic, parades a dedicated team and personnel that has undergone orientation/training on the use and working of the facility/available equipment”
Before the commissioning of the clinic, Governor Wike had also made available 16.6 billion naira to the Rivers State University, out of which about 7.6 billion naira was earmarked for the establishment of College of Medical Science, Faculty of Basic Medicines, Clinical Science and Pathology building at the institution.
Owing to this plausible development, this college has fully commenced its programme for the award of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and also strengthened accreditation at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
The Rivers State Government had also established a scholarship scheme for Rivers indigenes studying at PAMO University of Medical Sciences to facilitate the access to medical education, which in turn will reduce the gaps in doctor-to-patient ratio in the state.
The Rivers State Executive Council in October, 2020, gave approval for the reactivation of Kelsey Harrison Hospital and Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital in addition to the renovations and upgrades of major hospital structures and facilities that have been going on from time to time.
Again, the Wike administration has completed and commissioned the 250-bed space Mother and Child Specialist Hospital.
Indeed, Governor Wike has turned the state into a huge construction site so much so that whichever direction one is coming from, massive development projects are either going on or have been completed.
Repeatedly, the governor has made it clear that he will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state until the last day of his tenure. He has also assured that he will not leave abandoned projects for his successor.
“Nobody that will succeed me will complete any of my projects, because I will complete all my projects before I go. I won’t leave any project burden for my successor. When the new person comes, let him initiate his projects.
“Before now, APC said we are doing roads only in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas. Now, they can’t talk again. We have commissioned projects in Khana, Gokana, Eleme. The other day we were in Akuku-Toru, yesterday, we were in Emuoha. We are government for every Rivers person and every local government”, Governor Wike said.
Inaugurating the Rumuekini-Aluu Road, former Secretary to the Government of Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, said he was delighted to associate with Wike because he had demonstrated through his projects that he was truly bonded with Rivers people and knew their needs.
According to Anyim, it is this level of leadership that has enabled Wike to conceive projects that were tailored to meeting those needs, and eliminate the possibility of having white elephant projects.
“Governor Wike, because you commission project, it is certain no project will be abandoned. I am proud to identify with the progress that you have made.
“I am proud to belong to the PDP family. It is the spirit of PDP that is at work in your government and that spirit of PDP will come to work in Nigeria.
“When I was invited for this commissioning, I did not really appreciate the magnitude of the work, the real impact of the governance Governor Wike has brought to Rivers State.
“But as we drove down here, the impression I have is that Port Harcourt has expanded. It is only the government of the people that can expand a city to the extent that Port Harcourt has expanded”.
The Wike administration has, without doubt, performed exceptionally well in the promotion of security and protection of lives and property in the state, with the launching of operational security outfits such as C4I, Operation Sting and Neighborhood Watch.
Governor Wike has instituted financial incentives for the officers and men of security agencies, including well meaning donations to the families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty, as a further step in the robust, pragmatic strategy and holistic approach of the administration to strengthen the security architecture of the state.
At the tail end of last year, Governor Wike took a decisive step to end artisanal refineries also known as “kpofire” in the state in a bid to check criminality, fire explosions and the emission of sooth. He personally stormed the forests in Ogbodo and Ibaa communities (in Ikwerre and Emohoa Local Government Areas respectively) and ensured that the illegal crude oil refining sites were destroyed.
Obviously, Rivers State has gained so much under the leadership of Governor Wike. His determination to leave the state better than he met it underscores his undying love for the people of the state who gave him the mandate to administer their affairs for two consecutive tenures.