News Rivers at One: Ultimate definition of performance
Every indicator of development was crippled by prolonged maladministration, corruption, executive recklessness and deliberate mismanagement of resources that accrued to the state.
For two years, the courts were under lock and key,
practically welded by the agents of that dark era to deny the good people of
Rivers State access to justice. The closure of the courts led to the total
collapse of security and the rule of law in the state. Inhabitants of the state
suffered untold hardship as the immediate past administration ensured that they
were denied the benefits of living under the rule of law.
THE DARK ERA:
The immediate past administration’s executive recklessness
did not end with the State Judiciary. The administration also crippled the
State House of Assembly. For fear of being impeached, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi
personally led political thugs and misguided security agents to the premises of
the State House of Assembly where they physically assaulted lawmakers and
almost murdered one of them. A faction of the House loyal to the former
governor relocated to the dinning hall of the Government House, Port Harcourt
from where they rubber stamped his anti-people bills.
The economy of the state was not spared by the
maladministration, civil Servants were owed for four months and pensioners owed
for eight months.
Different shades of athletes were also owed, while the
immediate past governor fled the state
on self imposed exile as he pursued his personal political
goals.
The poor performance and misapplication of resources by the
immediate past administration in the state led to decayed infrastructure in all
the 23 Local Government Areas, dilapidated schools and disillusioned teachers,
high rate of unemployment, abandoned health facilities, general insecurity,
poor road infrastructure and general collapse of governance structures.
Faced with these developmental challenges and a bleak
future, the leaders and people of Rivers State resolved to look inwards for a
well prepared leader to rebuild the state, revive decayed infrastructure and
set it on the path of growth for the benefit of the people. For the first time
in the history of the state, stakeholders from all parts of the state
irrespective of their ethnicity approached a seasoned administrator, politician
and lawyer in the person of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON) to lead the state. The
people of Rivers State asked him to resign his appointment as the nation’s
Minister of State for Education. He dutifully answered the call.
LOOKING AHEAD FOR A NEW RIVERS:
The stakeholders pooled their resources together and bought
the expression of interest and nomination forms of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, for Nyesom Wike.
That was the beginning of the road to the creation of a new
Rivers State. Armed with the tacit endorsement of the key stakeholders of
Rivers State, Wike returned to a rousing welcome after his meritorious service
to the nation. He embarked on the most extensive consultation in the political
history of the state. He consulted social, political, traditional, economic,
women and youth groups across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. The
consultations paid off as PDP delegates voted Nyesom Ezenwo Wike their
flagbearer for the governorship election.
TAMING RECKLESSNESS:
Rivers State Governor, Wike assumed the reins of
governance at a time when the morale of
the people was at an all time low.
Despite the N3 trillion that accrued to the state in the course
of the immediate past administration, physical and social infrastructure had depreciated beyond imagination, while the people were left to suffer due to
lack of government projects and
programmes to empower them.
This was the premise upon which 1, 029,102 Rivers people
representing 87.77 percent of the total
votes cast on April 11, 2015 resolved that
Wike should lead the state out of the
doldrums of under-development and enthrone the values of a New Rivers
State. The victory of Wike led to wild
jubilations across the state.
A NEW DAWN:
From the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, venue of the inauguration,
Governor Wike accompanied by his wife, Justice Suzzette Eberechi Wike and the
Deputy Governor flagged off the Operation Zero Potholes Programme, an iconic
road rehabilitation scheme that has revived the Garden City.
THE MARCH TO GREATNESS:
One year into the journey,
this has proved to be the most valuable
decision made by the Rivers
people, as the state has metamorphosed
into a huge construction site where
values of good and accountable governance
have been elevated as the pillars
of the Wike-led administration.
In the last one
year, Governor Wike has
lived up the expectations of the
people, emerging as Nigeria's best governor in terms of
projects initiation and execution, staff
welfare, empowerment of the less
privileged, enhanced security
architecture, sports, education and employment generation.
It has been a compelling
love story between Governor Wike
and his constituents because the governor continues to deliver despite dwindling resources.
Governor Wike set up an outstanding team to help him deliver
on the developmental goals spelt out in his New Rivers Development Blueprint.
His heads of Statutory Boards and Commissions, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries,
Special Advisers, Local Government Caretaker Committees were appointed on merit
and with the vision to revive the state.
One of the most outstanding
areas of performance of Governor Wike in the last one year is the
area of developing new road
infrastructure in the urban centres of
the state for the purpose of
jump-starting the collapsed economy he met upon the assumption of office on May 29, 2015.
THE FLAG OFF:
The governor
shortly after he was sworn in
flagged off the Operation Zero Potholes
programme to address the
dilapidated road infrastructure in the state capital and environs. This programme is being handled by
two construction giants, Julius
Berger and CCECC.
VIGOROUS URBAN RENEWAL:
He also kickstarted the
completion of several roads abandoned by the immediate past
administration. The Governor's Urban Renewal efforts have led to the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of
over 120 kilometres of roads in seven local government areas of the state. They include: Port
Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Eleme,
Etche, Oyigbo and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas.
Residents of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government
Areas are appreciative of Governor Wike’s urban roads renewal programme in the
last one year. This is because the immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi who
lived at Okarki Street (Mile 1), Chigbu Street Mile 3 Diobu and Anozie in Diobu
and also stayed at Oro-Igwe road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area
deliberately failed to construct roads in these communities after serving as
governor for eight years. Today, the roads in Diobu are wearing a new look with
the economy properly re-focused.
A roll call of some of the prominent roads are: Abonnema/Obonnema Link
Road/Bridge (Commissioned)Eagle
Island/Iloabuchi Road/Bridge
(Commissioned)Abuluoma-Woji Link Road/Bridge ( Commissioned)Oyigbo Market Road
(Commissioned)NKPOGU-NLNG Road/Bridge
(Commissioned) Reconstruction of
33 kilometres of Township Roads under Operation Zero Potholes (Handled by
Julius Berger and CCECC) Reconstruction of Igwuruta-Chokocho road,
Reconstruction of Eleme Junction to Onne Junction of the East-West Road, Reconstruction of the
Rumualogu/Alakahiah Road, and Rehabilitation of the Road under Mile 1 Bridge.
Others are: Reconstruction of the Rumuolumini-Iwofe road,
Rehabilitation of Obi Wali road,
Reconstruction of Elioparanwo road,
Reconstruction of Oro-Igwe road.
As residents of the major urban centres celebrate Governor
Wike’s superlative road renewal scheme, those who stay in Diobu and Borikiri,
two densely populated suburbs are most grateful. Their roads were completely
abandoned and they suffered untold hardship. Today, they are singing a new
song.
Going forward,
Governor Wike has started the process of fulfilling some key pledges he made on
road construction. The governor in fulfilment of his pledge to the General
Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on
the completion of the Obiri=Ikwerre road to the airport has flagged off the
reconstruction of the road.
The governor has flagged off the dualization of the
Saakpenwa=Bori road in line with his campaign promise to the people of Ogoni.
In line with his commitment to the welfare of children in
the state, Governor Wike flagged off the construction of an ultra=modern
recreation centre near the Bori Camp axis on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
His commitment
to the revival
of the Rivers economy led to the
governor initiating the reconstruction of
the Federal Government owned Eleme Junction to Onne Junction of the
East-West Road to boost movement to the Onne Seaport. This project was funded
in conjuction with private stakeholders
in the area. The governor also initiated the reconstruction of
the Federal Government owned
NPA-Industry road to the Port Harcourt
port to improve the economy
of the area.
One of the highpoints
of the road infrastructural development
by Governor Wike in the last
one year is the revival of the Rivers State Road
Rehabilitation Agency. Governor Wike boosted the technical, financial and
equipment capacity of the agency to engage
in regular maintenance of roads
across the state. The successes
of this agency can be best appreciated
by the fact that the Amaechi administration left all the
major roads to degenerate.
Some of the roads rehabilitated by the Agency include : Bodo Road, Woji Road, Evo Crescent
, Birabi by Presidential Hotels Andrew Uchendu Crescent and Abacha Link Road.
The governor has
also commenced the revival of all dysfunctional street lights across Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas, to
improve security and beauty at night.
ENHANCING SECURITY:
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike inherited a state that was
bedevilled by security challenges following the closure of courts and the
destabilization of the State Legislature. The governor has adopted a
comprehensive approach to address the security challenges he met on ground.
To enhance
security in the course of the
last one year, Governor Wike's administration donated 66 Security Vans fitted with communication
gadgets to Security Agencies operating in the state.
The governor also liaised
with the 23 Local Government
Areas to donate another 46 Vans fitted with communication gadgets to
Security Agencies. He has enhanced Statutory Financial Support and relevant logistics for Security
Agencies thereby strengthening of
the State Security Council for responsive performance.
Most importantly,
the governor in concert with the
Rivers State House of Assembly
strengthened the Rivers State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism law empowering
the state to demolish houses from
proceeds of crime and also confiscate resources earned through crime by
criminals. To encourage security agents
to make sacrifices for the people, Governor
Wike outlined incentives that is
being doled out to those who suffer whilst fighting crime.
Governor Wike has taken practical steps to ensure that the
state enjoys relative peace for economic activities to thrive. One of such
practical efforts was the stakeholders meeting held at Omoku to address
security concerns in the Orashi region.
The security initiatives of the governor and his committed
funding of security programmes have been appreciated and commended by security
chiefs.
PROVISION OF WATER:
Provision of Potable Water
has received unprecedented attention
under the leadership of Governor
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. He has taken bold steps and has launched the State urban
water sector reform, the Port Harcourt
Water Supply Scheme and the Sanitation
Project. This project will create
women entrepreneurs, youth
employment as well as provide safe
drinking water for the inhabitants
of the state. Under the new Urban
Sector Water Reforms, the State Government will be
supplying water to 2 million
people in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government areas after laying 400 kilometres of
water-pipes in strategic
locations.
Symbolic to his first year in office, Governor Wike launched the potable water scheme in Akuku-Toru, commissioned the design and conceptualization
of water laboratories for the three
senatorial district and is
rehabilitating 10 old water schemes across the
state. The administration has enhanced
the expansion of water reticulation in Eleme and Okrika Local Government Areas, with the construction of
eight new water schemes already being executed for the people of the
state.
THE NEW JUDICIARY:
To most Nigerians and the international community,
Governor Wike's most
outstanding achievement in the
last one year is his restoration
of the rule of law and the rebuilding
of the Judiciary destroyed by
the Amaechi administration. The immediate
past Governor Rotimi Amaechi
administration deliberately plunged the judiciary into a needless succession crisis that led to
the closure of courts for over two
years. This singular unfortunate
act impacted negatively on the
security of the
state, the administration of
justice and the enthronement of good governance.
Upon being sworn-in as the governor of Rivers State, Wike immediately announced the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge,
Justice Daisy Okocha and the Acting
President, Christy
Gabriel-Nwankwo. About one year down the
road, Governor Wike has further
stabilised the state judiciary.
Immediate past Chief Judge of the State,
Justice Daisy Okocha (retd),
emerged as the first substantive Chief Judge of the State, while Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra,
incumbent Chief Judge of the State, even while she was considered a
non-indigene, succeeded her. Today,
Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo is also a substantive President Court of
Appeal.
FINANCIAL AUTONOMY:
Governor Wike took
very fundamental steps to revive the
state's judiciary as one of the first states to implement financial Autonomy for the judiciary and has commenced
the construction of an
ultra-modern Law Centre for lawyers in the state.
The governor
donated six coaster buses for the Five Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA, Branches and FIDA. Over the last one year the
administration has released over N700
million for Capital projects to the
judiciary, while the state government is
constructing additional courtrooms for
the State High Court and Customary Court of Appeal. The
state government is also constricting additional Courtrooms at the
Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. The governor’s efforts are targeted towards enhancing access to
justice for the
people of the state.
ELECTION TRIBUNAL:
In the course of his first year in office, Governor Wike
faced a lengthy battle to defend the mandate he holds in trust for the people
of Rivers State. From the Rivers State Election Tribunal which sat in Abuja,
through to the Court of Appeal up to the Supreme Court, Governor Wike displayed
unequalled faith in the capacity of the judiciary to do justice according to
the tenets of the Electoral Act and the Constitution. Though, the governor lost
at the Election Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, he held thanksgiving services
and met with stakeholders urging them to remain calm as he has confidence in
the Supreme Court.
However, on January 27,
2016 the governor’s faith in the judiciary paid off as his election was upheld
by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. This development led to unprecedented
celebrations across Rivers State. The governor himself was on the streets to
celebrate with the people. A confirmation that his relationship with the people
is built on mutual trust and friendship.
LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE: THE NEW HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
Just like the judiciary, Governor Wike
upon assumption of the reins of
governance restored the principle of separation of powers by duly proclaiming
the Rivers State House of Assembly at
its official premises.
Governor Wike
providing the right leadership, the
Rivers State House of Assembly has been financially autonomous, receiving her allocations on a first line charge basis.
BASIC SOCIAL AMENITIES:
In the course of
the governor's first year in
office, housing has also received the
required attention. 50 Units Iriebe Housing Estate for Middle
Income Earners has been completed and commissioned. The Wike administration has
also commenced the construction of the
Phase 2 of Mile One Market under a public private partnership arrangement.
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT:
Sports development is
one area that Governor Wike used to place Rivers State on the global
map. Rivers State hosted a series
of international football matches that
attracted global citizens to the state.
The State hosted the
National Under 23 Team Match against Congo, the Super Eagles Versus
Angola Match and the Ivory Coast versus
Sierra Leone Nations Cup Qualifier. The State has been playing host to all
the CAF Champions League Matches
involving Enyimba International Football Club.
In the course of the
year under review, Governor Wike
merged the defunct Sharks FC and
Dolphin FC to create a formidable Rivers United. The governor
also cleared the eight months salary arrears owed athletes
and managements of the clubs by the
immediate past administration.
SKILLS ACQUISITION/YOUTH EMPOWERMENT:
For the very first time in several years, the less
privileged in Rivers State are feeling the impact of a special empowerment programme
introduced by Governor Wike to over
35,000 artisans, barbers, traders, fishermen, farmers, hairdressers and other small scale business
owners who benefitted from the
N2billion Rivers State/CBN Micro, Small, and Medium Scale
Enterprises Development Fund. This programme
has helped to improve the economy of the State. The Rivers State Micro
Finance Agency, RIMA, has built the capacity of the beneficiary and disbursed
the funds directly to them in a very transparent manner.
EDUCATION/REHABILITATION:
Education has
received unprecedented attention
under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. For the first
time since the establishment of
the Rivers State University of
Science and Technology over three decades ago, the university will be having a College of Medical Sciences. The governor
laid the foundation stone for the
College and proactively released funds
for the commencement of construction
works. The first set of students
in the college will be admitted in the
course of the next academic session. The governor has also commenced the
completion of the
abandoned structures at the
Faculty of Management Sciences and Faculty
of Environment buildings of
RSUST.
The administration
completed the Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Faculty of Law
building which has facilities such as
auditorium, electronic and traditional libraries,
classrooms and moot courts. The governor
reinstated RSUST lecturers
illegally sacked and has released N700 million for the payment of
their entitlements.
The Wike administration
has also kick-started the process of rehabilitating
eleven prominent secondary
schools in the three
senatorial districts of the
state for the purpose of
reintroducing boarding education with
Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta,
serving as a pilot.
REACHING OUT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED:
To ensure that the
children of the less
privileged write their SSCE without being charged illegal fees by principals, the
governor distributed science
equipment for practicals to 247 public
secondary schools and also transferred financial grants to
them to buy relevant
perishable consumables for that purpose.
AGRICULTURAL REVIVAL:
Governor Wike has
revived the abandoned agricultural
sector . In liaison with the Central
Bank of Nigeria, Governor Wike has delved into the promotion of
commercial agriculture by providing
cheap finances for the cultivation
of oil palm produce and cassava.
The administration in
February 2016 launched the school farm project to attract youths to
farming for the purpose of food security
and empowerment. More than 2000 youth farmers have been
registered for empowerment into
agricultural sector in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state while plans have been concluded
for the administration to
extend credit to farmers and fishing folks.
The administration also reintroduced Input Distribution to boost Food Production in the state.
The Wike administration is
currently rehabilitating the fish farms
in Ubima, Buguma and Andoni, while it
contained the spread of avian influenza
in Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas in November,
2015.
TRANSPORT: REHABILITATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE:
The Transport
sector has witnessed the process
of the
modernisation of the marine transport in the state.
The governor has commenced the process of reviving jetties
across the state. Already work has started at the Jetty in Okrika, while
the of Bille Jetty and Bonny (Nembe-Waterside) are being redesigned for
work to commence. The goal of the governor is to make marine transport safe and
secure across the state.
Also, a Database of Buses/Taxis in the state capital is in the process of being developed while new Motor-Parks have
been established in Port Harcourt to promote the security of
lives and property.
HEALTH SECTOR (INTERVENTIONS):
The health sector has received the required attention
Governor Wike, who has through deliberate
funding and strategic investment improved the capacity of health personnel to
tackle infectious diseases and health challenges facing the people.
The Representative of the World Health Organisation,
WHO, in Nigeria, Dr Rui Gama Vas brought
to the fore the outstanding achievements
of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in the
health sector during his visit to the
governor on April 27, 2016. He declared that the robust
response of the state government through
its personnel and facilities stopped the spread of the deadly Lassa Fever
in the state.
The Wike administration
has started preliminary works towards the rehabilitation and
revival of Zonal hospitals and primary health centres in
the state.
Also in the health
sector, is the partnership with relevant
International Organisations for
the treatment of infectious diseases.
To further boost the
morale of doctors, Govenor Wike has flagged off the construction of the doctors
quarters at the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital gutted by fire.
STATE CIVIL SERVICE:
Governor Wike is loved by the civil servants in the state
because he has prioritised their welfare despite the dwindling resources
to the state
Governor Wike cleared the four months salary arrears he inherited
from the immediate past
administration and also settled the
eight pension arrears owed by the immediate past administration.
The state civil service has been reformed with Ministries, Departments and
Agencies receiving monthly overheads
denied them by the immediate
past administration.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT:
During the campaigns,
Governor Wike promised to
restore Port Harcourt City to its famous status as the Garden City
of Nigeria. One year into his first term
in office, the governor has
implemented programmes and projects
aimed at actualizing these goals.
The Wike administration
has in line with the
New Vision Development Blueprint
embarked on aggressive physical planning by designing a low density
residential layout near golf estate at
Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout wherein 150 plots have been mapped . This new
residential layout billed for
development will further beautify the
city.
To stop illegal structures
in the urban centres of the state,
the Wike administration merged the offices for the
approval of building plans into a one-stop-shop location at the State Secretariat. This has also increased revenue for the state.
To ensure that
the people support the urban renewal programme
of the administration, a public enlightenment campaign,
"Operation Garden City Restoration 2016" was launched for Port Harcourt and neighbouring communities, with efforts
geared at making the state capital neat and appealing.
WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE:
Women have been duly elevated as co=state builders with a
vital role in the New Rivers State by Governor Wike. The State Ministry of
Women Affairs is designed to carry women along in the process of development.
The State Judiciary has been stabilised since June , 2015 by
women. First, it was Justice Daisy Okocha (rtd ) as Acting Chief Judge
alongside Justice Christy
Gabriel-Nwankwo as Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal. Justice
Okocha later became substantive
Chief Judge before she retired. She was
seamlessly succeeded by Justice Adama
Iyayi-Lamikanra who is now a substantive Chief Judge of the State. Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo has also been
sworn-in as the first substantive
President Customary Court of Appeal. Aside the judiciary, women are playing key roles in the State
Executive Council as Commissioners,
Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Parastatals and
Government Agencies.
Though, the governor’s wife, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike
has been working as a High Court Judge,
she has continued to play her role as a mother of the state, providing succour
to the less privileged in the
state.
THE PEOPLES
GOVERNMENT:
The last one year has set the tone for the redefining
and revival of Rivers State. The
rebuilding of a new Rivers State, where all inhabitants of the state
will be proud of has started in earnest . No section of the state has been left behind as Governor Wike is involved in
pro-people governance steeped in consultations and respect for the contributions of all stakeholders.
As a result of the
governor's performance, the Rivers people have rewarded him with
undiluted loyalty. They trooped out on March 19, 2016 during the
rerun elections to declare
their appreciation to a man who
has kept his vow
that a new Rivers State is the right of the people . Their
support has created an enabling
environment for Governor Wike to
recreate the landscape of the
state and make it the envy
of other states.
As a lover of children, Governor Wike will construct an
ultra modern Recreation Park for Children. The programme will be centrally
located along Aba road near Bori Camp military barracks.
In his first year in office, Governor Wike has ultimately defined performance in governance with his focused leadership, compassionate
interventions in the welfare of
the less privileged , stoic defence
of the Rivers mandate, prudent
application of resources
and strategic implementation of
projects and programmes that have uplifted
the state.
It goes without
saying that Governor Wike's second year in office would be
extra-ordinary. This is because
the governor will not be confronted
with a year long electoral
litigation and majority of
the rerun elections
have been settled by the good
people of Rivers State. The
governor will focus all his
attention on development programmes and
projects. If Governor Wike emerged Nigeria's best governor in
the first one year of this
dispensation despite the distraction from the failed opposition and lack of financial resources
due to economic downturn, you can only imagine what he will achieve going forward. As the people say: Rivers State is new.
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