In Nigeria’s Civil Service system, any worker, especially hardworking one who had served the country meritoriously, always retire home happily, knowing he had contributed greatly to the growth and progress of his state/country.
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike after glorious 8 years of superlative performance in Rivers State will bow out honourably on 29th May, 2023 as a new administration is inaugurated in the state.
During his reign as governor in those 8 years, Governor carved a niche for himself by turning Rivers State into the infrastructural capital of Nigeria.
The governor broke records in Road construction, particularly in the area of flyover constructions. The beautiful flyovers his administration had constructed at strategic spots had not only given facelift to the city, but greatly reduced the perennial traffic jams that was hitherto the feature of Port Harcourt.
At the last count, the governor completed over 10 flyover bridges, including Artillery, GRA, Waterlines, Garrison, Ikokwu, Rumuokwuta, Rumuokwurusi and Ada George. He also expanded Rumuola and CFC flyovers which were hitherto narrow.
The governor also did marvelously well at the health sector where he built a number of world class hospitals, including the famous Mother and Child hospital and the Peter Odili Cardiovascular Centre.
Wike who was appraised as the Infrastructural Governor of Nigeria also left his footprint in the Education sector.
The workaholic governor also made much impact in the politics of Nigeria, having once served as a minister and narrowly escaped becoming the President of Nigeria by the whiskers.
Remember that if not for political turncoats like Aminu Tambuwal, Wike would have won the Presidential ticket of the PDP and would have gone ahead to become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As the governor looks back at these achievements, he will certainly thumb up his chest and say, like one of the characters in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “I came, I saw, I conquered”.
As he leaves office in glory and go for a glorious rest, the young technocrat he had groomed to take over on May 29, Sir Sim Fubara is sure to have some sleepless nights thinking on how he can measure up, or even beat the standard his boss had set in the state.
However, those who know the dashing young man well say, he is equal to the tasks ahead and would not disappoint the retiring Governor Wike who placed so much hope in him.
