As Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State alongside his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, took the oath of office on May 29, 2019, to begin another term of office, some residents have tasked the government on what should be done to return the state to its glory.
From all indications and going by the massive votes the pair secured during the last election, it is a known fact that the people of the state have implicit confidence in the ability of the governor and his team and expectations are indeed very high.
Some residents, who spoke with The Nigerian Xpress, charged the governor to give priority attention to security, environment, poverty, unemployment and infrastructure, within the next four years of his administration.
A traditional ruler and National Leader of South South Chiefs, Elders and Opinion Leaders Association of Nigeria, Chief Omubo Harry, said that although, the governor did well in his first term, the next four years would also be critical in assessing the overall performance of the government. He said: “The governor did well in his last four years. Now, he is talking about consolidation. But, we, the people are talking about how to curb youth restiveness and employment.
“Yes, he had done construction of projects and whatever, but there is acute problem of unemployment. This unemployment has led to youth restiveness. That is why we are having kidnapping and other security challenges.
“Rivers people will also want him to inculcate what we call community governance. It will help address security challenges we have in the state. In fact, let there be job for our teeming unemployed youths and the welfare of the people looked into.
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“Community governance, including some of the traditional rulers in terms of security arrangement and implementation, is very important. Very importantly, he should focus on community governance and job creation.
“For these four years, we appreciate him for the road network, which was perfectly done. We also need a form of decentralisation in this his second term. Everything has been centered on Port Harcourt, the capital. Let him also talk about Degema and Ahoada axis. Let there be decentralisation of projects. Not all of us would come to live in Port Harcourt. Industries should be revamped.”
An environmentalist and public analyst, Mr. Dumnamene Fyneface, called on the governor to spend more resources on job creation for the youths, tackle insecurity that is making the state fearful for investors to come and partner with the people for community development.
“The governor should also use his second tenure to attract federal presence to the state in terms of infrastructural development which was lacking doing his first tenure and do well to implement the minimum wage of N30, 000 for civil servants,” he added.
On his part, Festus Ogwuche, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, said Governor Wike should focus on alleviating people’s hardship because of the level of poverty in the state, in addition to insecurity, water, electricity and infrastructure.
Ogwuche said: “One of the cardinal things the governor needs to do is in the area of poverty alleviation. The level of poverty in Rivers State has risen to high level. And this poverty is also contributing to the state of criminality in the state.
“The crisis, violence and instability in Rivers communities are as a result of high poverty level. It is an evidence of poverty level that has permeated the entire state.
“Government should not be too elitist. I am not saying that this government is like that. But what I am saying is that government must ensure that abject poverty does not come to stay.
“Apart from that, he should concentrate more on infrastructure like roads. I am not talking about the Olu-Obasanjo or Azikiwe road. He has to focus on community roads. Roads linking communities should be focused on. There are fine houses but no good roads to access them.
“Other important areas the governor should focus on are electricity and water. The electricity supply in Rivers State is too epileptic. Also, a lot of people in the state drink water from boreholes. The borehole water is not too hygiene for human consumption. Payment of pension and salary should be also focused on.”
A youth from Ogoni, Jerry Barinwa, regretted the killings perpetrated in the state in the last four years and said efforts must be made to stop the dangerous trend.
“In the last administration, there was a lot of killings, cultism, robbery etc. It was not really good for the people. But right now that they have returned again for another four years, we want the government led by Governor Nyesom Wike to change themselves so they can affect lives positively in the state.
“In Ogoni land, cultism, oppressions, depressions, killings and beheading people is becoming too much. So we are calling on this new government to change the situations so we can live peacefully here as well as the state at large,” he said.
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An activist, Ken Henshaw, noted that some of the problems confronting Rivers are not peculiar to the state.
“They are the kind of problems that are basically around the Niger Delta, basically problems related to oil extraction.
“The people of Rivers State have a great expectation of their government and the government is expected to perform. In the last couple of months, we have seen the security of this state deteriorating very seriously to the extent that killing has become a routine; people are killed on a daily basis. Sections of the East/West Road to Bayelsa, Delta are absolutory no go areas, sections of the Omuogwa Road going to Owerri have become no go areas, East/West road leading to Akwa/Ibom has also become a no go area.
“Armed robberies, kidnapping, killings and beheadings are on the increase in these areas mentioned. Gang killings and violence are erupting. We actually have a major security problem in this state. And this is the first thing the governor should address.
“In the spirit of reconciling with the past, the government should re-invest on completing the uncompleted projects of the last administration which were laudable. It should also improve health centres, model primary and secondary schools started by the past government. This is what will bring healing, progress and infrastructure upgrade for the people of Rivers State.”
During his inauguration speech, Governor Wike declared that he would always place Rivers State first in all his actions.
“For us, in all things, it is Rivers State first; Rivers State is the measure; Rivers State before others. This is the essence of the political mandate and burden that we will bear for the next four years and we will not disappoint you.
“We will continue to stand up for Rivers State and defend her interest, no matter the challenges or what comes at us.”
The governor said that his administration is not in opposition to the Federal Government, calling for partnership to move the state and Nigeria forward.
