Over the years, the people of Rivers State have been yearning for a governor who will come and alleviate the sufferings from the lives of the masses and bring great development to the state.
During the electioneering campaigns in 2015, governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who was then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, toured round the state seeking for support from the masses and in a bid to get votes from them, he made promises to the people.
Some of the promises he made was, construction of roads, drainages, providing good water for the people and securing of lives and properties among others.
For many who knows governor Wike, they would agree with me that he is a man who doesn't allow his words fall to the ground without being accomplished as he is a christian who tries to live a Christ-like life and I make bold to say the prayers of the Rivers people have been answered as Wike is already delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
So far, the governor have been able to put smiles on the faces of people living in the state as he has provided social amenities for the general use of the public. Going round the state, is constructions of drainages, schools, and massive construction of road networks.
Recently, Nyesom Wike inspected one of the many ongoing road constructions in the state, the Igwuruta-Chokocho-Etche road.
Speaking after inspecting the road, Wike said the road is critical to the economy of the people of Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas. He noted that the funding platforms for the road has been consolidated to ensure that the contractors work regularly before the rains.
Governor Wike said: "Funding will not be a problem, so you have to expedite action before the rains. This road is strategic for the people of the area".
He urged the people of the area to support the contractors so that they can deliver on schedule.
Site Engineer of the contractors, Setraco Nigeria Limited, Mr Michel Isa said that full execution of the contract has commenced with the drains and preliminary excavation of over 5 kilometres of the road.
He assured the governor that the road will be completed on schedule as directed.
Wike who is loved by many, including the children, also visited the Rumuokwuta girls secondary school which was still under construction. The building of the school is in a bid to ensure the girl child gets the best of education. On the inspection of the school, Wike declared that his administration will develop quality education infrastructure across the state with the aim of instituting a world class education system.
He said at present, the state government is working on the infrastructure for the boarding schools, noting that the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta will serve as a pilot project.
Ezenwo Wike added : "Our people deserve the best. Therefore, we will give them the best education. We are developing a boarding school system that will produce students who can compete globally.
"I am happy that the basic road infrastructure and fencing of this school have progressed well. We shall in the next few weeks develop the laboratories, hostels and quality libraries to enhance education in this school".
He pointed out that the same facilities will be developed in 11 schools in the three senatorial districts of the state.
The governor also inspected ongoing work at the Second Bridge at the Woji-Akpajo road and work on Woji road at Rumurolu.
Governor Wike expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on the second bridge and Woji road. He said that he will always embark on inspection visits to ensure contractors adhere to approved specifications.
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who most of his fans call NEW in abbreviation of his name, is a man who believes in the new Rivers vision blueprint. The governor who recently stated that his administration will implement the State's Development Blueprint, the New Rivers Vision to rapidly develop the state.
Speaking in Port Harcourt after inspecting ongoing projects, Governor Wike said the blueprint was designed to empower Rivers people.
He said that his administration will always place the interest and welfare of the people ahead of any other consideration.
The governor who was accompanied on the project inspection by a former General Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr Eddy Mark and the Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor interacted with residents of Woji road, Rumurolu, during the project inspection.
He assured them that he would continue to monitor the progress of work to ensure the State government and Rivers people get value for the money invested.
Not leaving the the less/priviledged business enterpreneurs behind in his bid to make the state a great one, the governor assured the less privileged that his administration will take concrete steps to empower them through micro-credit schemes that will grow small and medium scale businesses across the state.
Flagging off the N2billion Rivers State Micro,Small, and Medium Scale Entreprises Development Fund in Port Harcourt, NEW said the programme which is being funded through a facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will assist small businesses have access to capital so that they can develop faster.
The governor noted that the State Government will serve as a collateral for the small business owners so that they can play more positive roles in the economic recovery of the state.
According to him, his administration will ensure that the conditions for issuing out the loans by the Rivers State Micro Finance Agency, RIMA, will be friendly enough for small and medium sized businesses to have access to funds.
In his words : "The aim of this empowerment programme is to reach the mama-put operator, the onion seller, the barber, the table water manufacturer and owners of medium sized businesses for them to expand, employ more people and grow the state economy.
"With the present reality, it is no longer feasible to rely solely on oil revenue. Therefore, my administration will ensure that these businesses have access to funds without stringent conditions.
Ezenwo Wike added that his administration will also extend credit facilities to farmers in the state to enable them expand for the purpose of the state's food security and the empowerment of a greater percentage of the people.
Governor Wike said the N2billion fund will be administered judiciously ,pointing out that it will not be like the Amaechi administration which squandered a similar facility.
Wike has since remained focused, despite his court cases which took virtually eight months of his administration and was later upheld by the supreme court, this is a clear indication that the governor has his people at heart and will do anything to better their lives at any given opportunity.
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is working and for Rivers State to be great, all hands most be on deck to move the state forward.
Collins Agwam can be reached via telephone 08039509281... Gmail agwamcollins@gmail.com
