Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has cautioned the newly appointed commissioners
and other members of the State Executive Council not to see their positions as avenue to make money but opportunities to serve the state.
The Rivers State Governor, who gave the charge during the swearing in of 18 new commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, also frowned at what he considered as   sycophantic orgies of some commissioners and other government officials who shirk their duties and display hypocritic gestures and culpable incompetence.
He drew the attention of the cabinet members to the fact that the present administration in the state was in its last lap and urged them to show deep commitment to the service of the people and prepare proper hand over notes for the new government in May, 2023.
Governor Wike, who congratulated the newly appointed commissioners, urged them to  bring their wealth of experience to serve the state by rendering good stewardship.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration in delivering quality service to Rivers people till his last day in office.
The Board of Trustees (BoT),  Governing Council and Management of PAMO University of Medical Sciences led by the Pro Chancellor, Dr Peter Odili, former Governor of Rivers State, also on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the Rivers State Governor in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr  Odili said the visit was in appreciation of the enormous support of the Rivers State Governor to the University in the provision of grants and sponsorship of indigent Rivers indigenes to pursue careers in various fields in Medicine.
He thanked the Governor for the partnership of the Rivers State Government with the University which had spurred the institution to accelerated actualisation of its objectives.
The Pro Chancellor pointed out that  the impact of Governor Wike’s support and scholarship to Rivers indigenes had given access to education to the beneficiaries with the potential of lifting their families out of poverty and expanding effective medical care services in the state.
Dr Odili  further congratulated Governor Wike on the recent award conferred on him by the President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for outstanding delivery of infrastructure in the state and described Governor Wike as the best Governor ever produced in Rivers State.
He said Wike  had brought extraordinary dynamism in the transformation of Rivers State and consistently defended democratic values and  made bold advocacy for the promotion of justice in Nigeria.
In his response, Governor Wike commended the management of PAMO University over the uncommon achievements recorded in the training of medical personnel within the short period of its institutional existence as the first Private University in the state, noting that the rare feat had made Rivers State proud.
He assured his guests of the continued support of his administration to the University, adding that plans would be put in place to expand the agreement and partnership of the Rivers State Government and the University beyond his administration.
Governor Wike also, within the week under review, hosted the United States Consul General to Nigeria, Will Stevens, who after a closed door meeting at his (Wike) private residence in Rumueprikom, Obio Akpor Local Government Area, joined the Governor to  inspect  ongoing projects billed for commissioning in November.
The projects included; Nabo Graham Dauglas Port Harcourt Centre of the Nigerian Law School; Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre.

By: Beemene Taneh