Anayo Okolie
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said on Satuday in Port Harcourt that his administration had surmounted multifarious political and economic challenges to deliver on his promises to the people.
Wike spoke when he hosted a breakfast meeting with members of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, led by its president, Mrs. Funke Egbemode. The officials of the Guild were in the state as part of preparations for its Annual National Conference, which holds in Port Harcourt from August 3 to August 7.
Wike said he had remained focused on the delivery of worthy pro-people projects aimed at improving the lives of the people.
He stressed, however, that the state would have attained greater mileage in development if it were not made to face endless rerun elections and security challenges, some of which he said were politically-induced.
“It is important for everyone to know that Rivers State is safe and is witnessing massive development. In the next two months, we are hosting many national events. We have already hosted several national events in the last two months,” Wike stated.
He added, “For me as governor, this is a privilege to serve my people and I will give it my best shot. I am ready to lay down my life for the state. My commitment to the development of Rivers State is total. I will forever defend it.”
On the rerun legislative elections in the state, which the Independent National Electoral Commission recently postponed, Wike warned that anyone planning to rig the polls will be disappointed because the people were vigilant and ready to resist any malpractices.
He said, “Stealing the mandate of the people is a serious crime and it is worse than armed robbery. In this case, those involved in the plot to use arms to steal the mandate of Rivers people, that will never succeed. They came to rig the March 19 rerun elections and the people resisted.”
The governor later led the executives of the Guild on a project inspection tour of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas. Projects, where construction and reconstruction works were on-going, which were visited included the NBA Law Centre, Woji -Akpajo road and bridge, Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt Civic Centre, and the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park.
The governor stated that he had tried to maintain a balance between infrastructural development and workers’ welfare within his first year in office. He counselled the media to always endeavour to report the true situation of things in Rivers State.
“For our democracy to continue to succeed, the media has a major role to play. It was publicity that led to the failure of the Turkish coup,” he said.
Later in an interview, Egbemode commended Wike for his judicious application of the state’s scarce resources.
