Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, have felicitated with the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyeson Ezenwo Wike, on his 50th birthday, describing him as a leader who has made outstanding contributions to national development.
The ex-president who stated this in a goodwill message to the governor, described him as a listening leader who attends to the everyday needs of his people.
A statement by Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, the former president’s spokesman, also quoted Jonathan as expressing satisfaction with Wike’s performance both as a minister in his government and as the governor of Rivers State.
The statement said further: “You are a notable democrat whose responsive and transformational pattern of leadership positively affects the lives of your people.
“As the peoples’ governor, you have made a mark for yourself, by shunning the convenient highway of political acceptability and opting to spend more time with the good people of Rivers State, listening to their hopes and aspirations, and attending to their every day needs.
“Through your visionary leadership, you have raised the bar in accountable governance with the unparalleled delivery of social and physical infrastructure; a commitment that have earned you a fitting epithet, ‘Mr. Projects’.
“Your excellency, I pray that God Almighty will preserve and protect you as you continue to improve the fortunes of Rivers State and transform the lives of the people.â€
On his part, Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, in Asaba, eulogised Wike’s tremendous contributions and outstanding accomplishments in the service of his state and country.
According to him, “the sterling contributions of Wike to the development of Rivers State and Nigeria is legendary and worthy of commendationâ€.
Okowa noted that Wike has transformed Rivers State with the various developmental projects embarked upon by his administration.
“The emergence of Wike as Governor of Rivers State has ushered in a plethora of unprecedented infrastructural and human capacity development in the state, adding “Wike’s selfless and impressive political and developmental achievements in the past two years in office has placed his name on the sands of time as an emerging nationalist and a man to look out for in the future political development of the country.
“The birth of great men is heralded by great events and are usually for a mission. Rivers people can attest to your doggedness, commitment and steadfastness in state craftsmanship as reflected in the monumental achievements in infrastructural development of your state.
“Your unrelenting, hardworking, benevolent, magnanimous, dependable and commitment to excellence has indeed earned you the title “Mr Projects.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State,I congratulate a gentleman of honour, courage and integrity, a leading light of this generation, a consummate politician of our time and a courageous democratic, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on his 50th birthday.
“In the contemporary politics of Nigeria, Wike has become an important factor as an emerging nationalist. He doesn’t pretend and his voice is heard across the land. He identifies with the people, loves his people, he is working for them and the people love him.
“On this auspicious occasion of your 50th birthday anniversary, I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life which has been marked by outstanding accomplishments and enduring fulfillment,†Okowa said.
