THE “MIRACLE” IN RIVERS STATE

By Ugochukwu Oputa

Towards the end of the Rotimi Amaechi’s tenure, the outgoing going Governor was credited to have said that he wondered how the incoming Administration would be able to pay salaries, talk more of to execute projects.

Upon the assumption of office by the NEW administration in May 29th, 2015, the NEW Governor kickstarted the Urban Renewal Program that very day with the operation zero pothole, which saw to the return of Julius Berger to Rivers State.

Even though most part of the first term of the Nyesom Wike led administration saw to the plethora of legal tussles which ended at the Supreme Court, the bye elections that held in the state, and the overtly tensed political space, the NEW administration kept on working in full capacity regardless.

It will interest you to know that with just under two years into the first term in office, with the many projects and evidence giant developmental strides thereof that abound, on 13th February 2017, the Vice President and then Acting President after taking a tour of the state, gave the famous MR. PROJECTS title to Governor Nyesom Wike.

In well about 20 months in Office, Governor Wike was already adjudged MR. PROJECTS.

By the end of Governor Wike’s first tenure, even members of the opposition party could not help but appreciate his giant strides. In fact, one of my friends who was a stakeholder in the opposition party said these words to me: “You cannot try to criticize Gov. Wike in terms of performance, and not sound stupid”. This statement he made in response to a former Governorship Candidate of the APC that attempted to put the Wike administration in a bad light on the famous Viewpoint radio program on Rhythm 93.7.

The Year 2019 was an election year, and even though elections held in March, Rivers State had to wait till April for a final closure. However, in same election year, just months after a very hectic reelection process, Gov. Wike flagged off simultaneously the construction of the 3 Magnificent flyovers and many other major projects in the state.

The year 2020 was one year that will remain in the world’s history books for a long time.
With the breakout of the deadly CoronaVirus that created a global pandemic, virtually all government around the world had a valid reason to “count losses”. However, in Rivers State, the case was different.

While many state governments came out of lockdowns with many excuses on how the pandemic was affecting development, Gov. Wike Launched his series of project commissioning that lasted for about two weeks.

Just before the December holidays, the Governor yet again continued with the another phase of project commissioning which included the commissioning of Elelenwo, Ndoni & General Diriyai Street - 21st Dec by , Tombia, Ndoni, Amaji Street on 22nd Dec by Gov. Samuel Ortom, and the commissioning of Aker Base road by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on December 24th, 2020 and many other projects commissioned.

The third phase of project commissioning resumed in the first week of January with the commissioning of the 10.3K Sime-Nonwa-Kira Road (Old Bori Road) by Sen. Bala Mohammed on the 4th of January 2021.

Other projects commissioned were the Bolo internal roads, Rumuche-Rumuakunde-Ohna Awuse Road, Isiodu road, Rumuekini-Aluu road, Abonnema Ring Road, Saakpenwan-Bori-Kono road, Bonny/Bille/Nembe Jetty, Eleme Oyigbo internal roads, Isiokpo internal Roads and others.

On March 1st 2021, the Rivers State Government started forth phase of commissioning with the commissioning of the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover by the former Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Donald Duke. This followed with the commissioning of Rumuogba 1 and 2 Flyover by the former Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in March 2nd, 2021, The commissioning of the GRA Phase 2 Roads( Tombia Crescent, Opobo Crescent and Isaiah Odolu Street) commissioned on March 3, 2021 by the former Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency, Ibrahim Shehu Shema.

The Fifth phase of project commissioning saw to the commissioning of the Real Madrid Academy in March 9 by the Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare. Other commissioned projects are the Trade Union Congress(TUC) Secretariat and the Omuhuechi-Omuoko-Omuokiri Road in Ikwerre LGA.

In what looked like an unrelenting desire for project delivery, the Governor Wike led administration in May 2021, launched a super 6th phase of Project commissioning and flag off with a 37-day pact events and activities.

This unprecedented feat saw to the commissioning and flag off of many legacy projects.

Some of the projects commissioned/billed for commissioning were the following:

the Cassava Flour Processing Plant, Oyibo, Mother and Child Hospital, Rumuomasi, Opobo/Nkoro Road, Odufor-Umuoye Road, Etche, Umueze-Umuogberi-Eberi Road, Omuma and the Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe.

Other projects include, National Industrial Court Judges Quarters, Rivers State University(RSU)Senate Building, Isaiah Odolu Street, GRA, Herbert Macaulay/Nzimiro Streets, Rumuigbo Street and William Jumbo/Ernest Ikoli/Eleme Streets, Old GRA.

Community Secondary Schools at Obiagu, Oyigbo and Eteo, Eleme, National Union of Rivers State Students Secretariat and Pabod Breweries/Oginiba Roads are also billed for commissioning.

Also some projects that were billed for flag off included the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Treatment Centre, Rumueprikom Flyover, Trans-Kalabari Road, Bori-Kono Road, Aluu-Omagwa Road,new campuses of RSU at Emohua, Etche and Ahoada as well as projects at Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Other projects are, Government Secondary School, Kpor, Gokana, Ogbunabali/Eastern Bye-pass Road, Ogbakiri Internal Roads, Omerelu Internal Roads and Abonnema/Obonoma Sandfilling.

Woji-Aleto-Alesa Road, Mgbuitanwo Roads, Okochiri Internal Roads, Okrika Sandfilling, reconstruction of Government House Jetty and foundation laying ceremony of the new University of Port Harcourt Convocation Arena etc.

Wow!

With all these are happening just months after the entire world came out of a lockdown.

The giant strides of this NEW administration have created some kind of wonderment. If not for the fact that almost all these commissioning ceremonies were televised, their stories thereof are almost unbelievable.

From infrastructural development, to massive interventions in the areas of Health care, Education, Agriculture, Security etc. almost every sector have felt an impact of the NEW Administration.

My dad captured it in this question to me:

You guys are just doing projects everywhere in a time state governments are struggling to pay salaries - where Wike dey get money? Abi una dey sell una own oil, dey take money?

Just like my dad, the common question on the mouth of many is now “WHERE WIKE DEY SEE MONEY”

And as an answer to the question, Gov. Wike have it to attributed prudent financial management, while noting that the state government is not taking any loan from any bank.

While the entire world might be carried away and engrossed with coping with the aftermath of a gloomy 2020, and trying to lay claim to the perfect excuse for inefficiency, I seek to bring your attention to an administration Miracle in Rivers State.

While you might be hesitant at first to acknowledge the eccentricity to these feats, take a moment to look around the country, and the eminent reality will dawn on you.

Welcome to the NEW Testament

Ugochukwu Tony Oputa
July 1, 2021

#OurStateOurResponsibility

Interesting...
i just can't wait for "the Unity" sha. it's about time we changed the world