Oyewale Oyelola
Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers state against all odds defeated APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, in last gubernatorial election in the state. Wike’s victory in April 11 poll is not a surprise to many people familiar with Rivers state politics because Barrister Nyeson Wike is grassroots mobilizer and man of the people.
Governor Wike is not new in Rivers state politics, he served as Chairman of the largest local government area in the state, Obio-Akpor from 2000-2006 before his appointment as Chief to Staff to former Rivers State Governor, Romiti Amaechi in 2007 and Minister in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2011.
He championed the court the case that brought Amaechi to office while the main actor was on self-exile in Ghana. Wike fought Amaechi’s enemies including former Olusegun Obasanjo who said Rotimi Amaechi‘s nomination as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for 2007 gubernatorial election in state had K-leg.
However, the frosty relationship between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Amaechi turned the jolly good friends against each other. The crisis led to exit of two terms NGF Chairman from PDP with other four other governors. He later joined All Progressives Congress in 2013 and worked against re-election of Goodluck Jonathan and PDP in 2015 general elections.
The 47-year-old lawyer turned politician in 2013 founded Grassroots Network Initiative (GNI) to mobilize support for re-election of Goodluck Jonathan. The support group successfully delivered over 1.8million votes to Bayelsa born ex-president in 2015 presidential election despite all name calling cum huge spending by Director General, Buhari Osinbajo Campaign organisation in the state.
GNI efforts in 22 local government areas resulted to landslide victory for Wike who contested under PDP platform in last gubernatorial election.
The former Minister of State for education upon his swearing in as governor of oil rich state without delay commenced transformation work in the state.
He swore-in Justice Daisy Okocha as Chief Judge of the state, as Ameachi led administration disregarded National Judicial Commission recommendation on the appointment of Justice Okocha. It would be recalled that courts closed for 21 months in Rivers state. The judiciary crisis in the state prompted Attorney General of the Federation to direct Bayelsa Chief Judge to swear-in Governor Wike.
The energetic governor also inaugurated the 8th state House of Assembly and reopened Rivers State House of Assembly Complex after two years. Time Nigeria reports that state legislators loyal to the former governor have been meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt since the power tussle in the state started.
The PDP governor is working with state house of assembly to correct misdeed of past administration in the state. He recently dissolved Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission on the directive of state house of assembly under the leadership of speaker, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Ibani.
The host governor while addressing the legislators promised to promote independence of legislative arm of government and maintain separation of power between the arms of government. “We are not worried by their (APC) claim that they have the tribunal. All we know is that Rivers State will always remain a PDP state. The people are with us.
“ While the APC were busy embarking on negative propaganda because they had excess money, we were with the people at the grassroots selling our programmes to them. That was why they voted for us massively,’’ he said.
The governor assured that he would promote the independence of the legislature by ensuring that the funds of the state Assembly would come as part of first line charge.
In recognition of Wike as political leader in South South zone, members of Delta State House of Assembly members led by Speaker, Mr. Monday Okemeni, visited him in his office to pay homage and seek for advice.
Okemeni described Rivers governor as a leading light in the political engineering of the country, adding that the governor would play a key role in the promotion of development of the region.
Wike is putting smiles on the faces of civil servants with the payments of outstanding salaries owed by past administration.
The sports loving former ALGON National President has paid eight months outstanding salaries/allowances of players and technical crew of Dolphins FC and Sharks of Port Harcourt.
Media Officer of the two clubs, Peter Abaje in a statement made available to FactualTimes, commended the governor for fulfilling one of his campaign promises.
Abaje said, ” So much has been given to players and officials of the two state owned club by the governor, players used to say we have not been paid salaries, we are hungry and cannot think well on the field but all that is over.’’
Wike also fired up National U-23 players to victory against Congo U-23 team in July 2015 with $30,000 promised for each goal during Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifier. The health workers have also resumed operations after 21 months strike that paralysed the health sector in Rivers state.
Dream team IV under Coach Samsom Siasia won 2-1 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Rivers state governor in pre-match interview said, “The Government of Rivers State is hosting this game to tell the Nigeria Football Federation and the entire world that we have a great edifice like this in this State, so that they can bring more matches of the National Teams to Rivers State.”
He recently renamed of Rivers State Polytechnic after late Niger Delta environmental activist, Ken Saro Wiva
Rivers state led by Chief Nyesom Wike has kick started the rehabilitation of Nembe, Bille and Bonny Jetties abandoned by the past administration. Time Nigeria quoted the governor as saying, “The three jetties rehabilitation when completed and operational will boost our internal generated revenue”.
The governor has met with the management of NPA, NNPC, Intels, Shell, NLNG and other multi-nationals/blue chips companies operating in the state for better partnership to fast track development of the state.
The governor has turned to construction sites with rehabilitation of roads across the state, especially in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Time Nigeria correspondent reports that the popular Azikiwe street in Port Harcourt will soon be ready for use while Julius Berger and CCEEC construction companies are currently doing rehabilitation work on roads in Borokori, Iwofe, GRA, Akpajo, Eliopraniwo, Tombia extension, Eagle Island and other key communities in Port Harcourt and other local government areas in the state.
The state government is also rehabilitating federal roads within the state to make life easy for people. Rehabilitation of Abonnema-Obnoma link road in Akuru Toru Local government has been completed while work on Andoni-Opobo Unity road and Trans-Kalabiri is going on.
Within three months Wike led administration has completed 50 flats of two and three bedroom flats in Iriebe Housing Estate.
Rivers state government also prioritized issue of security with donation 64 security vans to police and purchased high class communication gadgets to track down criminal within the state. Rivers state State House of Assembly recently passed Anti-Kidnapping law to curb growing kidnap issue in the state.
Governor Nyesom Wike is really walking the talk in Rivers state with all his achievements in just 100 days in office.
