Goodbye Mr Projects, Welcome Sim

Oh! How time flies. May 29, 2015 remains memorable because it was  a day that  announced the emergence of Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike,  an astute politician, into the administrative theatre of Rivers politics. That day reminiscences  the beginning of two distinguishing tenures characterized by unprecedented infrastructural development and urban renewal in Rivers State. At first, Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, was viewed as a neophyte  in handling state matters, but those who knew him  described him as somebody who had a programme in governance, and has got the focus and a vision for the people. Today, the same man’s score card is read everywhere so people could see for themselves, how well or poor he fared. Although Rivers State may not have had it all rosy these past eight (8) years, yet it has been lucky to have had a governor who would cower to no one when it comes to satisfying the interest of Rivers people.   Governor Wike  proved  himself a strongman, who came in fighting, and dismantling every landmine on the state’s developmental pathway
His inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 revealed the roadmap to kick-start the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Rivers State  as he pledged to leave his footprint in the sands of the  23 local government areas of  the state with at least one legacy project  that must be completed before the expiration of  his administration.  Like  a patriot, as he settled down for work,  he  addressed issues touching the areas that matter most.  He flagged off  zero pothole campaign on his first day in office. To the chagrin of the people, Governor Wike hit the ground running from the first day he assumed office in 2015, fixing roads and bridges, re-organising institutions and establishments, opening up clamped down spaces like the judiciary and courageously mending a broken, dysfunctional system. Governor Wike’s  leadership strategy took the  state a notch further,  in terms of the provision of basic infrastructure.  Construction and rehabilitation of roads, too numerous to mention in this limited page took greater percentage of his attention.
Payment of arrears of salaries owed workers in the state including monies owed pensioners as well as the bail-out of students of the state in overseas, among others,  were areas in which the Governor  made tremendous impact within the first 100 days of his first tenure. For the records, Governor Nyesom Wike has impacted every sector of the state, including infrastructure, economy, agriculture, security, health, education, and policy. His unprecedented infrastructural renaissance has indeed set the state on a renewed part of economic boom. His  understanding of  government as a continuum, made him  spend greater portion of his first tenure, tidying up projects  his predecessor could not complete, so long as they had direct bearing on the masses, a feat even his critics failed to applaud him.  His effort at  re-opening law courts which were hitherto locked by his predecessor was a commendable feat that helped to regularize the administration of Justice in the state.
Of course,  the  construction and rehabilitation of roads in various parts of the state, at that time went a long way to reduce the traffic gridlock   in Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs. Today, his scorecard of the last eight (8) years has been replete with outstanding achievements, ground breaking events and the initiation of legacy projects, which have not only transformed the landscape of the state impressively but has attracted an avalanche of awards and chieftaincy titles from home and abroad. Governor Nyesom Wike may not have been without fault, but in spite of his shortcomings, he has written his name in gold. It is in this regard that the President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Eze (Sir) Mike Elechi, remarked that “for Wike, these eight years, based on where the state was when he came, he has actually laid the foundation to propel the economy.”
To say that Governor Nyesom Wike has turned Rivers State into a development model is an understatement, the state is simply the development index for Nigeria. Little wonder, a former commissioner of information   in the state, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, once said, “the developmental strides of Governor Nyesom Wike in all sectors of the State’s economy are so glaring that nobody can deny the fact that Rivers State, today, is the development index for Nigeria.” Wike’s commitment  to the rapid development of Rivers State  turned  the state into a huge construction site. A status that  earned the state respect across the world, as  all eyes are turned on Port Harcourt for economic and business activities. His speedy and timely delivery of massive infrastructures was second to none. Suffice it to say that by these achievements, Wike turned around the fortunes of our state. His  potentials and pedigree which speak of him  as an articulated visionary earned him the sobriquet “ Mr Projects. Upon  the strength of his delivery of projects that have transformed Rivers State, his foremost outstanding developmental strides, as early as two years in his first tenure, “Leadership Newspaper named him Governor of the Year 2017.
Like Caesar  attested in a report to Amantius, a friend of his in Rome, Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike came, saw and conquered. Nevertheless, as imperfect as every mortal being could be, the outgoing governor in all his achievements, never had a sweet romance  with the state civil servants while his reign lasted as  civil servants in the state neither tested promotion, nor had the promoted ones  their financial benefits implemented. Yes, he may have managed to right his wrong at the twilight of his reign by organising an adhoc promotion exercise, but how far will that go in healing the pains and agony of eighth years? Howbeit, Good bye! our governor.
Welcome Sim
On the other hand, today is  the much awaited May 29, 2023, when power is expected to change hands in the country in general, and in the state in particular. Interestingly,  Wike honourably bows out of office to give way to Dr  Siminialayi Fubara,  aka Sim, for short, to enter.
The  expectation of many  Rivers people is that Sim’s administration should not only consolidate on the gains of his immediate predecessor, but also bring about a huge turnaround in terms of innovations in  the state. In the first place, our new governor must work hard to prove those   who doubted his capacity to steer the ship of this great state wrong with good governance. This task is only achievable when  right pegs are fixed on  fitted holes irrespective of political leanings. Fubara’s inclination towards zero tolerance for corruption in public offices as well as making accountability a watch word, will take our state a step further
As Rivers people look into the future, , there is a palpable desire to be productive, competitive, and self-reliant in the face of global and national uncertainties. Consequently, stakeholders and various interest groups are already advancing their agenda for the next governor. The thoughts of Rivers people, through the voices of interest groups, major stakeholders, and experts in various sectors will be distilled as an agenda for the new governor. However,  in this first installment, an economic agenda is articulated for the next occupant of the Brick House in the hope that all the material and human resources bequeathed to the state by God might be harnessed to create enduring wealth and prosperity, particularly given the foundation laid by Governor Wike. It is in this regard that the President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Eze Mike Elechi, remarked that “the economy of a state or nation has to be tackled by first of all laying down foundation – the infrastructure that will propel the economy”.
Given the commendable effort of the outgoing governor  at  providing physical infrastructure,  what appears more important now is a  look at the things that can make the economy grow vis a vis the dynamics of it. Modern-day economic booms would take off from industrialisation, agriculture; etc  Electricity stands tall in the hierarchy of the needs of the state. Rivers State can leverage on the bill on electricity generation and power, if assented to,  to have abundant power, enough for distribution. According to the President of PHCCIMA,  almost all the companies in Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout have either moved or are moribund”.  Hence, the onus is now on the new administration to focus on cottage industries by creating special loan schemes whereby the private sector can access equipment finance to increase their capacity in order to boost the economy.
Small businesses sure need assistance equivalent to what is offered by the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.  This makes a critical look at the Rivers State Micro-Finance Agency (RIMA), for the purpose of restructuring it to meet its mandate imperative. In the same spirit of helping small business holders, reasonable consideration can be given to tax holidays to enable existing businesses grow and to attract new businesses to the state. This no doubt, will improve the  Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the state. In addition to this,  the impact of community hostilities, and insecurity on the business community in the state has remained a concern to be addressed. Host community interference and disruptions are very low or nonexistent in many parts of Lagos. For example, you will not find individuals visiting companies within the Ikeja environs making demands because they are from Ikeja. You will also not find expatriates using armed policemen or soldiers on every trip because they have kidnapping scare.  Why would  any one consider sighting business in a State notable for host community disturbances, kidnappings, and other vices, as against settling in Lagos State that is relatively peaceful and business-friendly?”
Acordingly, there are expectations that  the next governor of Rivers State would put the Onne Port and the Port Harcourt Port into use   so that raw materials can come directly to Port Harcourt, as against what is currently obtainable. Where “a truckload of raw materials coming from Lagos to Port Harcourt cost almost N1 million. That money can be saved if we are using our ports. It is also hoped that the next governor will create additional industrial parks with a good road network, energy, and water to boost manufacturing in the state.  This if  done, would lure investors to move in and develop their lots.  The next governor should, as a matter of necessity,  seriously consider accelerating the process of obtaining  Certificate of Occupancy (CoO) so that property owners in the state can use their properties as collateral to boost their capital.
Therefore, security and energy  must be treated as  major components of EoDB.  Guaranteed that security  seemed improved in the day time for now,  there  is the need   to make day and night secure, just as Port Harcourt used to be in the past; and also make sure there is steady energy. When these two things are there, “people can do their business both day and night, bringing Port Harcourt to its former glory.”Mr. Okuku stated.   According to him, Lagos State has no oil, but it’s just a business-friendly environment. For us here, we have the seaports, we have the rail, we have the major roads, and we have the airport. So, these principal routes of entry, and exit make Port Harcourt the second best place to invest outside Lagos.
The  economic agenda for the next governor is very clear: fight multiple taxes; improve Ease of Doing Business; build new industrial parks; open up the seaports. Others are to help local government areas develop industrial hubs based on their unique comparative advantage; support small businesses with equipment loans to boost capacity and productivity; create an opportunity desk to hunt for jobs, scholarships, and grants for the indigenes of the state; and reorient Rivers People to be more investor- friendliness.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi with report from Raphael Pepple