Rivers State Governor; Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that one of the
greatest achievements of his administration is the elimination of the
upland/riverine dichotomy which plagued the state in the past.
Speaking during an interview with the organisers of Zik Leadership Prize
Award, Governor Wike said that his administration has been able to promote
unity for the overall development of the state.
He said: ‘First of all, you remember that the founding fathers of this
state maintained that Rivers state should be seen as a place or land of
opportunity where people will have to achieve their potentials in life. In
this state before, all you see, all you hear is tribalism; that you are
from the upland, you are from the riverine and so people were not doing
things as if we are one Rivers.
“So, we believe that, one way we must achieve, if we see ourselves as one
and once that is done, then we have moved to the next step. So today, our
concern is that issue of upland/riverine is no longer necessary. We see
ourselves as one Rivers state and it is necessary because of the projects
and programmes we are carrying out in all the local government areas in
the state. So the issue of upland/riverine differences is relegated to the
background.
“There are projects going on every where in the state and if you don’t do
that people will begin to say of favouritism against each other that we
are this, we are that, and vice versa. Therefore, the issue is to bring
everybody together.”
Governor Wike noted that Rivers State has made tremendous progress in the
last three years because project execution has been prioritised.
“We have to move and that is why today, most people are beginning to have
hope and they are happy also that Rivers state is moving, it is no longer
stagnated as it used to be. We have moved from point A to point B.
“Our concern is to make sure that we use the economic potentials of the
state for the greater interest of our people by turning around what we
have from what we use to have.”, he said.
The governor said that his administration is committed to making sure
that Rivers state takes her rightful position in the comity of states in
the country.
He said a trip round the states of Nigeria under the present dispensation
reveals that Rivers State under his watch is one of the leading centres of
rapid growth.
Governor Wike said that he inherited a collapsed infrastructure and
damaged governance structure, hence the decision to prioritise projects
execution for optimum output.
He said: “The idea of I started this project without completion amounts to
bad governance. My administration has taken the step by completing all
abandoned and uncompleted projects. When such projects are fully completed
and those that left them uncompleted, who did not handover properly to me
will turn around to claim 95% completion of such a project. How can a
project left at 95% completion take 3-years to complete, isn’t it funny?
“Our problem in Nigeria is that we initiate white elephant projects that
we cannot complete. My administration has plans of building new schools
and also renovating old ones. That cannot be done at once but in phases
across the three senatorial districts. Any project that we cannot fund, we
would not venture to begin”.
He stated that achievements in governance can only be made possible by
commitment and passion, and not just the experience of the office holder.
“But it goes beyond that and that is the passion and commitment, and that
is what has helped us to record some of the achievements that you have
today identified. So commitment and passion are key for any person in
public office to make a mark or try to achieve some successes. So, for me,
it’s the passion and commitment and these are things that would aid in
recording some milestone”, he said.
Governor Wike added: “Like I said, part of the problems we’ve always been
having with all due respect is not being able to identify what you want to
do. Planning to carry everything at the same time and at the end of the
day, you achieve nothing. So, for us, what was our focus when we came on
board. The infrastructure was completely down, no road networks. So, how
can you talk about bringing in investors to Rivers state when there are no
network of road infrastructure. We fixed the infrastructure, beginning
with the road network. If you look at the budget in our first year, it was
dedicated to works, bringing alive all decayed infrastructure in terms of
road network. Having done that, we moved to another sector without
carrying everything at the same time.
“Remember, in May 27, 2015 precisely, my predecessor while having his
birthday at Obi Wali International Conference Centre did say that he’ll
see where the governor of the state would get money to pay salaries,
talkless of carrying out projects. But to the glory of God, we are safe.”
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is among nine prominent
Nigerians who have won the 2017 Zik Prize Award. Governor Wike emerged the
winner of the Zik Prize in Good Governance.