[Opinion] The Amazing World of Rivers State Gov, Nyesom Wike

We have seen Governors and administrations come and go in Rivers State since the current democratic dispensation in 1999 and even before it. Their styles of leadership, achievements, loyalties, dividends, abandoned projects, those that made sense or did’nt and lagacies, are all of public knowledge.

We also know that, ideally, leadership or government is not a right per se’, but an instrument of authority, given by the people to the person or group of their choice, for a period of time before it reverts back to the people. While some people miss the point or essence of it all and see Excellency as a destination, those who know what’s all about, see it as a journey which must definitely come to an end someday. What you chose to do with the peoples’ mandate or power remains, either long or shortly after you are gone.

Gov Nyesom Wike is giving to Rivers people what they could not get, over the years, from the Central Government of Nigeria. This is despite what the state contributes to sustain the economy of this country. The Gov is doing so in a way that will imortalise and keep him in the hearts of the people until the end of time.

The Gov’s decision to embark on projects that make so much sense and will touch the hearts of both Rivers people and residents of the city, who massively voted, trusted and stood by him, in the turbulent time following the election he won at the first ballot, can be seen all over the city.

It takes a great, vissionary leader and grassroot politician, who is on ground and in tune with reality or the needs of the people, to sit back and consistent with his defined mission, campaign promises, dream of a better tomorrow, come up with such important projects that will enhance both the social well being of the people and enhance economic activities in the state.

Vehicular or trafic gridlock which has been the bane of the Port Harcourt metropolis ever since one can remember, will be history very soon. Everyone knows the untold hardship Port Harcourt residents suffer to go from one end of the city to the other. Journeys of minutes take hours. Businesses as well as economic activities in the State, are not spared. The people have never been happier as they patiently waiting for the Messiah who has finally come, in the form of an elected leader, to solve this perenial problem.

Flyovers are coming up everywhere in the city, even the old shameful single lane “pedestrian like bridges” at Rumuola & Corpus Christy junctions, will give way and be expanded to standard 4x span flyovers. Internal roads within the entire Old & New GRAs, neglected over the years, are being expanded with the first of it’s kind drainage systems and high quality asphaltic overlays by no less a contractor than the best in the business, Julius Berger.

Unfortunately for those reactionaries and members of the unnecessary opposition in the state, whose stock in trade to attack and criticise every action of Gov Wike, the good people and residents of Rivers State, who elected him, have no regrets whatsoever. They are equally sick and tired of those unfounded and false criticisms of a Gov who is justifying the confidence reposed in him. No one is interested or still listening to subjective criticisms that have neither basis nor founded on any substance or factual information.

When the Gov tried to protect his people from covid-19, by coming out in full force to ensure that all the safety protocols were complied with, it was a problem and they ran their mouths. He was the first Gov that closed interstate borders, imposed total lockdowns, shutdown public crowded areas to prevent community spreading, contain the virus and prevent a surge, serial critics and the lazy opposition called him names. But when he relaxed the restrictions and the infection surged, nothing was heard from them. What a people who only create faults out of nothing, but will never encourage or hail excellence in service?.

The people are now tired of all these empty criticisms and distractions from a particular segment of the population who add nothing to their lives.

While the people hail their “Mr Projects” Governor, the town criers, gossip dumps, rumour mongers and false alarmists, are waiting to criticise every action of government.

Sincerely, if we must tell ourselves the truth, we have never had it so good. Wike is the only Governor, truely elected by the majority of his people, who knows the powers he has under the constitution of this country and fearlessly excercises them, to the full limits of the law. He has never been found to empty outside the laws or constitution. He has refused to be cowed or intimdated by anybody, no matter how highly placed or the forces behind them.

We should be very proud of the Gov as a strong, tenacious and courageous leader who is neither waiting for anyone to dictate what direction he should go nor is he prepared to share public funds to shut them up.

The latest noise about the Gov’s intervention in the Joi Nuineh Police Saga, is to say the least, disgusting to every sane mind. That the Gov is the “Chief Security Officer” of the State is incontestable and must be respected because he takes responsibility for any breakdown of law and order, in every part of the State. It is both lawful and makes common sence that he is carried along or kept in the known of any high profile arrest or espionage operation against any citizen or institution within his State, whether by the Police or any other security agency involved. This is so because in the process of carrying out such an order, there can be an organised resistance that may even lead to a shoot out and the Gov is taken by surprise in his own State. Moreover, the volatile nature of Port Harcourt can only be taken for granted at anyone’s peril.

Joi Nuineh, a former MD of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is by no means an ordinary citizen of Rivers State. Possibly in such an exalted position, she could have cultivated or groomed strong loyalists or a mob who could intervene in any attempt to kidnap or arrest her, under any circumstance. If on that basis, her State Governor was called to a strange movement around her residence and he, of course, responded, as the Chief Secutity Officer of the State, that was quite in order. It’s really amazing that some people can criticise Gov Wike for doing just that.

While the laws are always there for people to see and be properly informed or guided, styles of leadership are different, from one leader to the other. The last time l checked, Gov Wike is fully in compliance with all constitutional provisions that guide and protect him as an Executive Governor, with some level of immumity from prosecution. Whoever is not happy with his style or feels he is breaking the law, should brief his lawyer and wait until his tenure as Gov is over before he can be taken to court to get redressed.

Wike is just one Gov who has power, derived, very legimately, from the people and knows what to do with it. Period!

We have seen leadership or governorship tenures come and go in this State and should be able to assesa what legacies each of them left or will leave behind at the umpteeth time.

It is really stupid to argue or shout about who is stronger or will win in a wretling contest, where there’s land to prove who is.
I suggest that people should allow Gov Nyesom Wike to serve his people. Period!

My take.
Just making common sense.