A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Prof. Onyee N. Nwankpa, has commended Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for what he said was the proactive measures he put in place to contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.
He was speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt over the weekend in his office. According to him, “this is the first time to my knowledge, a governor in the state is boldly standing up in defence of his people and damn the consequence. I commend his leadership style and courage. Unfortunately, some leaders do not have the interest of the people or state at heart beyond their parochial interest”, he stated.
Prof. Nwankpa recalled the untiring effort of the governor in ensuring that Rivers people and residents stay alive in the face of the scourge, pointing out that Gov Wike was the first in Nigeria to close down the state borders, urging the residents to stay-at-home and to observe all the precautionary measures as directed by the health authorities, in order for them not to contact the disease.
The PDP candidate for Oyigbo State Constituency in the State House of Assembly in the last general election also used the opportunity to thank the governor for setting up committees and making resources available for the procurement and distribution of palliatives to the lockdown residents for their sustenance.
On his reaction to the arrest and detention of the offending two caverton Helicopter pilots in Port Harcourt, Prof. Nwankpa condemned those supporting their action.
“I support the action of the governor 200% and would have wished the pilots were jailed. While the governor is working day and night to protect his people from the global disease, some persons somewhere are busy sabotaging his effort.
Meanwhile this is where they make all the money used in developing other places. I commend the governor for standing up for the people. What kind of arrant nonsense is that”, he fumed.
Prof. Nwankpa was however happy on the other side of COVID-19. He pointed out that in everything in life, there is a positive and negative side, adding that the advantageous part of the global pandemic is that it has forced the government at all levels and even individuals to look inwards.
“In the health sector for instance, the disease has exposed the neglect of the health sector with its attendant non existence facilities.”
This situation, he noted has forced the government to start renovating and equipping hospitals for both the rich and the poor.
“Not all the time every small headache you see our leaders rushing abroad for medical checkup, sometimes at the expense of the government”.
Prof Nwankpa also disclosed that the manufacturing sector is not left out as the hand sanitizers and face masks are manufactured within by the people. He used the opportunity to urged the nation to encourage local experts and professionals to start up from there for the much talked about diversification of the economy.
