The outgoing governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has assured that he will not interfere in the administration of his successor,, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
The governor, has however, urged Fubara to be wary of those who will be hellbent on creating rift between him and elders of the State, who are supposed to guide him as he steers the affairs of the State.
Wike made this remark at the thanksgiving service to mark the end of his administration and the inauguration of the governor-elect at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Diobu, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He assured that after eight years of meritorious service to the State, he would not interfere in the administration of Fubara as long as the administration engenders peace, unity and development of the State.
“We will not disturb you from running your administration, but we will not allow you to make us cry. We want you to succeed more than us, so that when we are passing on the road, we will raise our shoulders and say we told you that he will do better than us”, the governor said.
Wike charged the governor-elect to be firm and decisive in his decision making, particularly, if it is in the overall interest of the generality of the State.
According to him, “You have to be firm and take decision. Decisions you will take may not be palatable, and it shouldn’t be palatable to everybody. No one decision you will take and everybody will be happy. People will criticise you.”
He also advised Fubara to be wary of those who for their own selfishness may want to instigate him to shun elder statesmen and other stakeholders in the State whose counsel will help him steer the affairs of the State.
“You see the way I related with our elders, you see the way we have respected Sir Dr. Peter Odili. The day you run away from them, enemies will catch you. And it is the work of enemies to make sure you don’t succeed.
“You have not been inaugurated, see what they are posting that the governor-elect is quarrelling with the outgoing governor. That is to show you where they are coming from and where they are heading. But I know they will fail. You have been in the system”, he said.
The governor commended the Rivers State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi and the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, for the pleasant relationship that existed between the three arms of government throughout his eight-year reign.
He stated that if the judiciary and the legislature were antagonists, his administration would not have been able to achieve the remarkable developmental strides recorded in the last eight years.
“The essence of government is for us to touch and impact on the lives of our people. That is what it is. Among the Chief Judge and Speaker, we have had a robust relationship. It has never been antagonistic. If I had a hostile Assembly, we would not been where we are today.
“If I had a hostile Chief Judge, the same thing. But God has blessed us in such a way that we have always complimented each other, and work collectively and that is the result we are seeing today. And I also appeal that whoever is going to be the Speaker, be careful”, he warned.
Wike admonished the governor-elect to cultivate healthy relationship with both the State Assembly and Judiciary.
According to him, the judiciary and the legislature must never be denied all their statutory entitlements in order to avoid unwarranted friction that will not augur well with the State.
Wike said he would not run away from the State, as he is not afraid of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“I am not running to anywhere. I will be here, of course. I know EFCC will not come. If they come, they have so much to go around and see. And they will say they are tired.
They are watching everything we are doing. I am not afraid”, he stated.
The governor used the occasion to redeem the Rivers State Government’s pledge to gift the Bishops of Ogoni, Okrika and Niger Delta dioceses vehicles.
He also directed the bishops to go to the Ministry of Land today and sign for Certificate of Occupancy for their private residence.
Earlier in his sermon, the Archbishop, Niger Delta Ecclesiastical Province/ Bishop, Diocese of Ikwerre, Most Rev Blessing C. Enyindah, had commended Wike for successfully governing and transforming the State in the last eight years.
He advised Fubara to run an inclusive administration, ask for God’s wisdom in decision making and to stand firm for what is in the best interest of the State.

No fewer than 65 world leaders, including Heads of State, are expected to grace the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the 16th President of Nigeria, today.
Sources at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to The Tide that several African leaders had indicated interest in attending the inauguration ceremony which would take place at Eagle Square, Abuja.
According to sources, 65 world leaders from Africa, Europe, and America are expected at the swearing-in ceremony.
These include past presidents, diplomats, heads of international organisations and prominent Nigerians, and representatives of foreign governments and agencies.
Representatives of Nigeria’s traditional allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, China, Germany, Finland, Jamaica, Japan, Israel, Turkey, and several others are also expected at the high-profile event.
“We have 54 countries in Africa and most of them have been invited to the inauguration; so, we don’t expect less than 65 world leaders from Africa, Europe, and America at the event.’, the source said.
Already, the United States of America delegation for Tinubu’s inauguration has arrived the country.
Recall that President Joe Biden had announced that a US delegation led by Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge will attend the inauguration ceremony of Tinubu billed for today.
The US Mission in Nigeria, yesterday, announced their arrival ahead of the transition ceremony.
Announcing the arrival of the nine-member team, @UsinNigeria wrote, “Welcome to Nigeria! We are excited to receive the delegation from @POTUS Biden, led by @SecFudge from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as they join us in Abuja for the inauguration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Tinubu will be sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria today at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

The Joint Health Sector Unions/Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU), and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have declared an indefinite strike.
According to the aggrieved workers, the strike is as a result of the failure of the Federal Government to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and other demands.
JOHESU/AHPA is a conglomerate of four registered trade Unions which include Medical and Health workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institution(NASU).
Declaring the indefinite strike on Thursday morning in Abuja, the Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr.OgbonnaChimela, said, “Consequent upon the nonchalant, bias and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Ministry of Health against JOHESU members and the resolution of the expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the unions held on Monday, May 8, 2023, our members in Federal Health Institutions nationwide are hereby directed to withdraw their services indefinitely commencing from 00.00 hour on Thursday, May 25, 2023.”
The unions had earlier on May 9 through a letter to the Federal Ministry of Health, giving the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to meet their demands.
Ogbonna said the issues in dispute were: Adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS; payment of peculiar allowances to health workers; immediate and unconditional implementation of the Consultant Cadre circular for pharmacists in all federal health institutions; payment of withheld salaries of members in Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and outstanding April and May 2018 salaries of members in Federal Medical Centre, Azare; as well as payment of health workers excluded in payment of wage new hazard allowances.
He said the mode of payment of all health workers in Nigeria is Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) while Physicians are on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
He said, “As at 2009, the Memorandum of Understanding at the inception of these two salary structures and subsequent Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Federal Government and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) established strongly that once there is an adjustment in any of the salary structure, the other structure should be adjusted commensurately.”
The unions called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately approve and implement the technical committee report on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
They said “the unending vicious cycle of tyranny meted against members of affiliate of the Joint Health Sector Union members of the respective (JOHESU) in the health sector by the physicians dominated and oriented Federal Ministry of Health.”
The unions also called on the National Assembly especially Senators – elect and House of Representatives members — elect to only facilitate the appointment of seasoned administrators and managers of cognate experience as ministers in charge of the health sector.
“This remains the only way to normalize and do away with the perennial entropy that continue to engulf the health sector where productivity is at the lowest hub,” they said.