BEVEELY HILLS, May 29, (THEWILL) – Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Monday called on his political opponents to join hands with his administration, to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
Speaking during a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, he also called for reconciliation among the political class, to create a better platform for the state to develop faster.
THEWILL recalls that the immediate past governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, had turned down an award reserved for him by Wike as one of those who contributed to the development of the state in its 50 years of existence. He stated that his successor had made abuse and denigration of him his (Wike’s) one-point agenda.
But unveiling his two years scorecard at the meeting, the governor said, “We must find ways to forgive one another, open avenues of co-operation and join hands and together, defeat the smacks of poverty, inequality, and lack of meaningful progress preventing majority of our people from enjoying the good life that we all desire and aspire for.”
He went on to list his achievements in the last two years to include road construction, education, health, agriculture, among others.
Wike said his administration, in last two years, has recorded unprecedented investments in the development of infrastructure, which, according to him, “have engendered growth in the service sectors, leading to economic boom in the state.”
The governor said his administration has placed the state on the path of rapid development and that moribund businesses are gradually re-opening while new local and foreign investments have been attracted to the state and revealed how his administration eliminated multiple taxation, to ensure businesses thrived for the people’s benefit.
According to him, “We are also supporting the growth of indigenous entrepreneurs, through contracts, as well as encouraging small and micro-enterprises with financial support to revitalise local economies.
“It is clear from emerging indices that the state of our economy is improving, and it can only get better in the days, months and years ahead, until we are able to deliver economic security to our state on sustainable basis,” he said. The governor said his administration gave priority to the provision of infrastructure, education facilities, health and projects that promote access to justice.
“From inception, our administration has taken up this challenge by prioritising provision of infrastructure across the state. In the last two years, we have invested over N145 billion to construct roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and underground drainage systems.
“As we speak, several road construction works are either underway or completed in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Degema, Etche, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ikwerre, Emohua, Khana, Gokana, Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, and Tai Local Government Areas.
“For the first time in our history, rural and semi-urban areas are receiving fair attention in the provision of roads and bridges thereby breaking down barriers of isolation and neglect hitherto associated with rural areas. We are also improving quality of education by enabling our educational system to produce 21st century graduates with innovative skills and knowledge to drive our development.”
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