By Tekina Princewill
Before his appointment as the Minister of State for Education in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, was already a huge political influence in the politics of his home state, Rivers. He played his role with remarkable and outstanding effectiveness in both the administrations of Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi.
The story of how Amaechi became the Governor of Rivers State and the legal battle that preceded it, need not be recounted here. But what needs to be pointed out is the uncommon courage displayed by Wike in fighting the powers that be at that time who were willing to cede that office to another political party if only to ensure that Amaechi did not go near it. It was a figurative bull fight that put his very life on the line. Yet, he forged on like the proverbial Trojan until he achieved victory at the Supreme Court in what will remain a landmark judgment in the nation’s legal history.
It was fair and rewarding that he was appointed to serve in that administration as the Chief of Staff, a very strategic office often reserved only for the hands-on, can-do, goal-setting and go-getting political operators. It was to be expected that national office will be the next logical playing field for such an energetic politician. While there, he made his mark in a manner that endeared him to his people back home who invited him to come and lead the process of emancipating the state from the quagmire of inefficient and incompetent leadership of the immediate past. It is a measure of his confidence in his own abilities and the trust that his constituents will not betray him that he had to resign his ministerial appointment to vie for the governorship of Rivers State. It was a move that was akin to leaving the known for the unknown. He believed that to achieve higher goals, it is necessary that he let go of his comfort zone. It was not easy.
It was not meant to be, given the intrigues, blackmail, character assassination and heinous propaganda foisted on him by the then incumbent administration that was determined to stop him at all cost. But Wike soldiered on with his never – say – die spirit and overcame all obstacles both at the polling booth and in the courtroom.
Today, he is seen as a stabilising factor not just in the politics of Rivers State, the Niger Delta region but also at the national level particularly with the crisis being generated by some misguided militants. In this instance, he has continued to lead efforts to restore normalcy in that region that holds the ace in the game of national economic development. It is a task that is to him, in equal measure, challenging, daunting and exciting but which he perceives as not insurmountable.
Even in the politics of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike has remained a reference point as that once ruling party grapples with the dynamics of opposition politics as well as the challenges of its own internal contradictions. The importance of Rivers State and, by extension, the government in place which he personifies, can be assessed by the immeasurable determination and the underhand methods deployed by his opponents to strip him of the reward for his hard work and their lamentations when failure and despair stared them in the face. To his contemporaries in the PDP, Wike’s leadership qualities are inestimable and that is the scare the opposition feels each time it contemplates embarking on the plot to deal the death blow. That, in itself, has provided for the PDP a source of strength and hope that, in the struggle for political power in Nigeria, it is not over yet for it. This is exemplified by the drive he is providing in the rescue measures for the soul of the party.
Wike is the kind of smith that will have 20 irons in the fire at the same time. Even with the inconveniences brought about by the activities of militants in his state, the job of resuscitating, reviving and rehabilitating a fallen colossus, he still has his hands on the plough and his attention focussed as far as the governance of the state is concerned. His administration has stabilised the economy of the state through the strategic release of funds via payment of salaries and payment for key projects. This has made it possible for the renewal of infrastructure across the state to assume an enhanced tempo. This is an assignment he is carrying on with vigour and single-minded pursuit that will certainly etch his name in the pantheon of the greats in Rivers State’s public life.
In his fair-minded disposition, the governor has not only assured the people in all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state that they will feel the impact of his administration in terms of project execution, he has also set in motion the required necessary modalities geared towards fulfilling this pledge through demonstrable good governance.
In the one year of his administration, Governor Wike has continued to emphasise the importance of stability in the governance process, in policy formulation, interpretation and execution.
Wike stressed this again when he assured the people that his government has “stabilised the economy of Rivers State since we took over the reins of leadership in the state. We achieved the stabilisation of the economy by injecting N151 billion as salaries and payment of contractors.
“These funds have helped us to rebuild our economy which was badly damaged by the immediate past administration”. He gave his word that no project will be abandoned by his administration.
To achieve this goal, he said that his administration will only award contract for projects that will be completed within the life-span of his first tenure. The governor was elated that the renewal of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas has enhanced the economy of the state as more investors have developed the confidence to invest in the state essentially because of the sincerity of the administration that has consistently marched words with action.
It is on record that 46 roads across the state have been reconstructed under the Operation Zero Potholes even as 15 other roads abandoned by the immediate past administration have been completed and 27 new ones initiated by his administration completed and commissioned.
Wike’s governance style is integrated in nature and this ensures that all sectors are carried along so as to achieve rounded development that is visible. It is in pursuit of this policy that he announced that the State Government is building an Information Communication Technology (ICT) compliant security infrastructure to help fight crime and empower the security agencies to be more proactive. This strategy has been most effective in the effort to combat cultism across the state especially in the higher institutions. He recalled that “When I met with the President, I told him that we will tackle cultism and insecurity in four local government areas. They are Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.” That promise has, in the main, been actualised. To avoid a relapse to the past, he warned against the politicisation of crime and made sad reference to the claim by opposition politicians in the state that suspected cultists who murder innocent people are their members.
In the education sector, Wike said that the administration has started the phased rehabilitation of schools in three senatorial districts, completed the Faculty of Law, paid for science consumables and restored NECO in the state. He also promised that his administration will continue to subsidise education, but added that the people should be prepared to pay maintenance fees to assist the state government run the educational institutions. He said his administration will continue to subsidise education, but added that the people should be prepared to pay maintenance fees to assist the state government run the educational institutions. “I did not promise free education, because I know that it does not work. I only assured that we will provide quality education for the people. There is no free education anywhere in the country. All those claiming free education are playing politics”.
The governor said that the needs assessment of all the General Hospitals in the state have been completed and a phased rehabilitation of the hospitals progressing in earnest.
Going forward, the governor said that employment opportunities will be created via agriculture and industrialization and promised to create jobs for physically challenged persons who are educated.
Wike said, “Employment generation will be our focus in the next one year. We shall support entrepreneurship to create more jobs for the people. This, indeed, is government in action.
*Princewill contributed this piece from Port Harcourt
