Since Governor Nyesom Wike assumed office in Rivers State after defeating his opponents in the fiercely contested April 11, 2015 gubernatorial electoral contest, some highly placed members of the opposition in the state are yet to come to terms with their electoral defeat. They have done everything humanly possible to reverse the huge loss. But it appears that every step they take does not really make any difference. Not even their legal fireworks at the tribunal could unseat the ebullient and hard working governor, who came to office with the interest of Rivers people at heart.
He has since demonstrated that he is a man of the people by his people-oriented programme and projects in many parts of the state. He has equally promised that no local government will be left out of his projects. Any visitor to the state will confirm that the governor is working and delivering on his electoral promises. His one year in office has demonstrated that he will do more in his effort to further grow the economy of the state.
The people of the state are aware that he is living up to his electoral promises. It would be recalled that during the re-run poll, the state witnessed as much violence as during the main poll simply because some people are hell-bent on getting to power at all cost. Now that the suspended poll will be conducted this month, it is pertinent to appeal to all the stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the state.
Let our politicians stop seeing election as a do-or-die affair. They should see election as an exercise by which leaders are chosen to serve the people well. Election is supposed to be an enjoyable exercise and not one to be dreaded. It should not be reduced to a war where every imaginable weapon of violence is unleashed on the opponent.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies must ensure that the remaining poll is conducted and concluded peacefully. This is another litmus test for the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu. Let there be a level playing ground for all the participants in the electoral contest. The state should not be set on fire because of some people’s political ambition. The security agencies must ensure that the poll is free from violence and electoral infractions. It should be free, fair and credible election. Politicians in the state should refrain from making inflammatory statements that can cause breach of peace. They should enjoin their followers to also embrace peace during the poll.
It is in this light that the recent alarm raised by Governor Wike over some alleged plot to reverse the gains made by the state in the promotion of security of lives by reposting to the state some alleged compromised policemen. In other words, Wike is alluding that some policemen are being sent to the state to foment trouble during the forthcoming poll. Good enough, the governor has tabled the issue before the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and intimated him of these officers sent to the state to cause maximum confusion during the concluding election. This alarm should not be treated with levity or be swept under the carpet in the usual Nigerian style. Let the police boss, therefore, look into the allegation and do the needful to avoid another wave of violence in the coming poll in the state.
The state is witnessing a rebirth in terms of infrastructural renewal and economic development that will further develop tourism in it. Some of the projects that Governor Wike flagged-off that have made great impact in the state include the operation zero-potholes programme, empowerement of less privileged people, urban and rural water supply schemes, and improvement of security of lives and property in the state. The operation zero-potholes programme has been deployed effectively to rehabilitate some roads in Port Harcourt and adjoining towns. The project ably executed by Julius Berger and a Chinese construction firm is reported to have completed not less than 120 kilometres of roads in the state.
These roads cut across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Eleme, Etche, Oyigbo, and Akuku-Toru local government areas. Besides, the governor is also fixing street lights that are no longer functional in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas. It should also be noted that Wike is not restricting his road rehabilitation programme to only state roads. Some Federal Government roads have also benefitted from the exercise. These roads include Eleme Junction to Onne Junction portion of the East-West road and the NPA-Industry road. The roads will make for ease of movement and further enhance economic development of the state. The governor is building a modern recreation centre for children near Bori Camp, Port Harcourt. To ensure that the people of the state have potable water, the governor has embarked on massive water supply scheme projects in some parts of the state. The project has taken off in Port Harcourt. The scheme is already being extended to Akuku Toru, Eleme and Okrika local government areas.
Apart from enhancing public hygiene and standard of living of the people of the affected local government areas, the water scheme will empower some people, especially women and youths. Following the increase in cultism and kidnapping activities in the state, Governor Wike has risen to the challenge by ensuring that the laws against these vices are reinvigorated and the security agencies well equipped to face such rising insecurity in the state. The governor in conjunction with the local government areas in the state has donated scores of operational vehicles fitted with modern communication equipment to security agencies in the state.
This is in addition to some financial support that will enhance their operational efficiency and effectiveness. It is also on record that the state anti-kidnapping and anti-cultism laws have been strengthened by the State House of Assembly to the extent that the state has the powers now to destroy houses built with proceeds of crime in addition to confiscating resources that emanate from criminal acts. With these measures, kidnapping and cultism will no longer thrive in the state. Wike’s development project, which is multi-sectoral, has also been extended to housing, judiciary, healthcare, and sports sectors. The governor has launched some mass housing projects in the state. It is likely to be extended to other areas of the state as well. The judiciary has been given a facelift since Wike’s assumption of office.
The governor has ensured that the judiciary is now working in the state. He has commenced the building of new courts for the state judiciary to ease their work. He has also supported sports development in the state. To ensure efficient healthcare delivery system, Wike has launched the building of doctors’ quarters at Braithwaite Hospital, Port Harcourt.
There is no doubt that others will follow in due course. Now that the governor has stabilized the economy of the state and is fast repositioning the state for tourism and making it a destination of first choice, he needs the support of all the stakeholders in the state. The prevailing peace and development in the state should not be truncated or disturbed because of the forthcoming concluding election. The governor is focused, he should not be distracted.
Mr George Nwibe, a political activist, wrote from Port Harcourt.
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