Fact an objective consensus on a fundamental reality that has been agreed upon by a substantial number of people, has always been misconstrued or misrepresented or misunderstood by many probably for lack of proper, sentiment free assessment and collection of events which produces the actions.
It is factual that either by whatsoever mean, one might come up with; the All Progressives Congress APC has won the March 28, 2015 Presidential election in Nigeria.
Importantly, it is also factual that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had won the gubernatorial election in Rivers State in the election of April 11th, 2015.
To many facts are very uneasy to accept for reasons known to them, call it cogent, verifiable or baseless reason because certain sentiments have been conceptualized. In this episode of Issue Abattoir significant of the lofty facts of governance in Rivers State in the running 76 days by August 12, 2015 under the administration of Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON would be x-ray given the fact that some indigent opposition are far from the truth, being blind to realities on ground occasioned on negative influences premised on false propaganda.
Before the Party primaries or pre-electioneering campaign chief Barr. Nyesom Wike was one of the most criticized aspirants especially on the platform of the PDP. His critics based their arguments on the view that he is of the Ikwerre extraction given the obvious that the immediate past governor was an Ikwerre man, and human judgment that Wike was an ogboni man or not a Christian.
Indeed, several antics were deployed to silence the candidacy of Barr. Wike including the fusion of many of the contestants who could not within themselves consider a consensus contestant to challenge Barr. Wike’s intimidating candidacy. During the period it was interesting to note that no substantive claim was laid against his ability to perform if elected into office, though few on the sideline mention such with coldness.
The APC were not left out in the fight against the aspiration and subsequent emergence of Barr. Wike for obvious reason on fears of the unknown, as the outgone governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi vowed to ensure Barr. Wike did not emerge in the PDP. And this raised some concerns of what has Barr. Wike’s candidacy in the PDP got to do with the APC chieftain; then it was termed an act of obvious defeat.
Today, not undermining the electioneering campaign promises to the people of Rivers State, the Ikwerre chief and responsible lawyer in the country, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has proven wrong the fears of those who may have doubted his active performance if elected, by swinging into action to positively reposition the wrong deeds by previous administration as well as put smiles on the faces on the people.
On swearing in on may 29th, 2015, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike CON a two term electoral chairman of the famous Obio/Akpor Local Government Area under the Dr. Peter Odili administration, former Minister of State for Education and Supervising Minister of Education, did not only commissioned the operation zero potholes in the state capital but also ordered the immediate rein statement of the illegally sacked lecturers at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) with all denied entitlements and arrears paid.
The benefit of that is that residents and indigenes of the state alike are now driving with ease as rehabilitation work is seriously ongoing around the state. The people of Borikiri and indeed old Port Harcourt township, not leaving out those on Iwofe road, Diobu axis to mention just a few heave reasons to have sigh of great relief as their roads are seriously receiving positive attention.
Several students of the RSUST are today enjoying their lecture as lecturers are no longer managed, but enough and prompt to deliver their services to the leaders of tomorrow. At least the daily difficulties faced by students, residents and visitors who travel along the Iwofe road will be a thing of the past in no distant days.
Another scene in the 76 days government is the quest to complete the Trans-Kalabari road abandoned by previous administration thereby posing divers threat to the people of that area. When that is completed, it means that the much attacks by hoodlums on the dilapidated busy Emohua-Ogbakiri road would also be forgotten.
Abandoned Illoabuchi/Eagle Island road has since been put into use as the present administration under governor Wike immediately embarked on completion of the bridge and road. It is now on record that those living on that axis are happy. The fact on completion of that road remain that the incessant cultism activities, snatching of people’s belongings along the abandoned road has disappeared as the people are full of gratitude.
Within the period under review the foundation of the spare parts and automobile market was been laid. This is evident as the popular Ikokwu spare parts market would be relocated to the permanent site when completed thereby providing the needed environment, free flow traffic and decency along the already abused Ikokwu, area as along the Olu-Obasanjo road.
Governor Wike’s dynamism in governance and proof of his administrative prowess rises by the day as his determination to make life meaningful to people of all parts of the state is still in force as he on Friday 31st July, 2015 inspected the 38 kilometer Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro road, christened Unity road and assured the people of his administration’s readiness to commence construction on the abandoned or cancelled road in the coming days.
Significantly, the people whose hope were dashed on noting that the road project was cancelled by past government now have sight of relief and sense of belonging when the governor told them to go home and sleep with their two eyes closed as the road would be completed in the shortest possible time.
Interestingly, on swearing in into office on Friday 29th May, 2015 the two arms and institutions of government that were murdered – the Judiciary and Legislature were brought back to live with the appointment of her Excellency, honourable Justice Daisy Okocha as Acting Chief Judge of the state and Justice Christie Nwankwo as Acting President Customary Court of Appeal.
Live on Monday June 1, 2015 was the breath into the state Legislative Assembly as was proclaimed by governor Wike with Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani elected as the honourable speaker of the 8th Legislative Assembly.
In the bid to reposition the state for optimal performance, the State Assembly under the speakership of Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani swings into action, screened and approved the nomination of four (4) commissioners and thirteen (13) special advisers to the governor.
Erring commissions which operated outside the provisions of the law establishing them were not spared by the State Assembly. They were chairmen and commissioners in the Rivers State.
Judicial Service Commission, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, and Rivers Local Government Service Commission.
Obviously, the pragmatic steps taken by the government led His Excellency Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo wike has numerous scenes aim at the development and growth of the state which within 76 days have imparted positively on the people of the state.
Key among it were the clearance of the backlog of salary arrears owed workers in the state as well as payment of over N712m fees to students on overseas scholarship who the past government abandoned on cross roads in strange lands.
On record time, it is another history the present government has also complete the law faculty building at the RSUST Campus.
Not done yet within the first 100 days in office, Barr. Wike just on Tuesday 4th August, 2015 treated the entire State to the famous Sharks FC Stadium at Civic Centre for the occasion of the commissioning of 64 Operational Patrol Vehicles for the JTF and Police Force to combat crime in the State, and addition 500 Units of rain cape for the Operation Keep Moving Policy on road decongestion.
The feet so achieved in two months and fifteen days of the current administration is indeed packed with monumental facts as its significance remain immense benefit to the citizenry which sums up the essence of good governance.
It is however, the position of Issues Abattoir that the governor Barr. Wike maintain the tempore and keep the flags flying.
It is also a prayer point that the governor would surmount all known and unknown challenges and distractions while God will continue to uphold him. ###
With James Mgboineme
jamesthenewswriter@gmail.com.
