The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State Chapter Ambassador Desmond Akawor has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the project oriented Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike over his spread of development projects across the length and breath of Rivers state, describing it as first of its kind in the state. Ambassador Akawor in an interview with Newsmen during the Account of Stewardship of His Excellency Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt also congratulated the Governor on the successful flagging off and commissioning of iconic projects as part of activities marking the second year anniversary of his second term in office, saying the feat was unprecedented in the history of any administration in the state.
Ambassador Akawor said the commissioning and flagging off of people oriented, impactful and lives touching projects within and outside the state which lasted for over forty days showed quite clearly that the governor prepared adequately well for leadership and governance of the state.
He noted with deep sense of nostalgia and pride that Governor Wike in his second term in office has continued to execute projects as though it was his first tenure, insisting that qualities such as that exhibited by the Rivers state governor were rare in the Nigeria’s political space.
“We make bold to challenge anybody to show us in which other state such plethora of projects are being flagged off or commissioned even in the midst of very lean revenue coming to the state from the federation account and without borrowing from any bank” Akawor said, noting that the continuous flagging off and commissioning of projects was also a clear manifestation of the prudence and fiscal discipline which Governor Wike applied in the management of resources available to the state. He said the spread of projects across the nooks and crannies of the 23 local Government Areas of the state also lent credence to the love the Governor has for the people and his passion to make the state the development hub of Nigeria.
“It has also put to silence those who were purveying the evil narrative that the Governor concentrated development projects in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor alone. The landmark infrastructural revolution brought about by the award-winning-projects governor is actually a reflection of his commitment to fulfilling the campaign promises made to the people in 2015 and 2019 respectively, as unanimously concurred by the people of the state during the Accountability Forum at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference center, Port Harcourt. The Governor has dazzled and impressed the people of the state and the PDP family in particular with his infrastructural development ingenuity so much so that even his so called detractors cannot but agreed that he is performance personified. The PDP and all lovers of development are walking with their shoulders high as the state has become the talk of the day for the very positive reason of development spearheaded by the Ikwerre born political tactician as he had left no area of the economy untouched in his transformational blueprints. Wike’s magic wand as his performance could be best described saw transformation in Road infrastructure, Healthcare, Education, Housing, Sports, Social Welfare, Rural Development and Agriculture as well as construction of Flyover bridges. His infrastructural knack also extended beyond the shores of Rivers state to the people’s overwhelming amazement as to where the funds being used for the execution of these projects are actually coming from even without borrowing from any bank. What is even more interesting is that the projects have completion timeline and definite funding procedures. This can only happen where sound financial decision and good management principles interplay”.
The PDP Chairman said through his project expansion Governor Wike had deleted the Phrase “Riverine and Upland Dichotomy” from the lexicon of Rivers people as roads now reach remote Riverine communities such as Opobo, Andoni, Abonema, Buguma Abonoma, among others.
“There is also the Abonema, Buguma, Obonoma link road which traverses communities in Kalabari land while similar roads are also being opened in other Riverine areas to permanently nail the coffin to Riverine and Upland syndrome in the state”.
On the political scene, Ambassador Akawor said Nigerians seeking political and leadership positions can draw experience from the Rivers state governor who has increasingly become a powerful political figure in the country as his voice is heard loudly on National and political discourse. He argued that there is no way his voice can be ignored in the nation’s political dialogue due to his wisdom, clear stand-point and political sagacity. He said the Governor has given voice to the people of Niger Delta, South-South and indeed the people of Southern Nigeria, adding that it is only pertinent and proper to continue to support him to enable him realize his dreams for the state and Nigeria at large.
