Wike’s performance as governor best in Rivers since 1999 – Nwuche

Amid the spat between the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the APC governors over Mr Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, has commended the minister for the infrastructure across Rivers during his (Wike’s) tenure as governor of the state.

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Mr Wike was the governor of Rivers from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023.

Mr Nwuche, chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission, praised the minister during a thank-you visit by the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers, Solomon Ochoma, to his hometown of Ochigba Community on 12 September.

The former speaker, represented at the event by Kingdom Ajugo and Vision Paul, recently expressed support for Mr Wike’s Rainbow Coalition in Rivers, calling the coalition a “political masterstroke”.

“It has created leeway and an important political opening that allows individuals and groups who may belong to opposition parties to support the President’s re-election without necessarily having to abandon their political parties,” he added.

‘Over 1,000 kilometres of roads’

Mr Nwuche said the level of infrastructural development witnessed in Rivers under the Wike administration was unprecedented, noting that over 1,000 kilometres of roads were completed and commissioned across the state.

According to him, the projects connected rural communities to urban centres, opened up previously inaccessible areas and stimulated local economic activity.

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Among the projects the former deputy speaker highlighted were the dualisation of the 16.06-kilometre Saakpenwa-Bori Highway, which traverses Tai, Khana and Gokana local government areas; the rehabilitation of the 11.53-kilometre Eleme-Afam (Oyigbo) Road; and the completion and commissioning of the Nkoro-Opobo section of the Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni Unity Road, which was conceived during former Governor Peter Odili’s administration.

Mr Nwuche noted that the road’s completion enabled residents and visitors to access the historic Opobo Kingdom by road.

Other projects he cited included the dualisation of the Ahoada-Omoku Road, with street lighting; the construction of 10 flyovers in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas to ease traffic congestion in the state capital; and the award and flag-off of the ongoing 12.5-kilometre Trans-Kalabari Road project.

He also referenced numerous projects executed in the education, health, security and social sectors during Mr Wike’s administration.

Mr Nwuche particularly thanked Mr Wike for the several development projects his administration executed across Ekpeye Kingdom, describing them as a significant departure from the experience of previous civilian administrations since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

He listed projects as the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road; Ahoada-Odhiemerenyi-Ihugbogo-Odhieke roads; Ahoada-Ekpena Road; Ogbo-Ihugbogo Road; Odhiemudie Road; Odioku internal roads; and the Obodhi-Ozochi Road, including the bridge across the Orashi River.

Others included the Ula-Ehuda-Odhioku-Odhireke Road; the remodelling of Western Ahoada County High School, Ahoada; the Ahoada Campus of Rivers State University; the Mbiama-Orkaki-Agbo Road; Odhioku Primary Health Care Centre; Ahoada Regional Hospital; and the Odido Road and bridge, among others.

Mr Nwuche stated that, for the first time since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Ekpeye Kingdom had witnessed a “significant concentration and spread” of development projects undertaken by the Rivers State Government under then-Governor Wike.

According to him, before the Wike administration, the people of Ekpeye were largely remembered for their votes during elections and forgotten thereafter.

He lamented that previous administrations had, on occasions, exploited and created divisions among Ekpeye residents and leaders, while the area remained deprived of development.

Mr Nwuche challenged anyone with a contrary view to identify significant projects executed across Ekpeye land by previous administrations between 1999 and 2015.

Mr Nwuche thanked Mr Wike for constructing the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road.

He recalled that the road was initially awarded during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi but was subsequently abandoned.

According to him, the road was eventually completed and commissioned in February 2018 by the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba.

Mr Nwuche prayed for the soul of the former speaker to rest in peace, recalling that he served as Mr Na’Abba’s deputy speaker and worked closely and harmoniously with him during the Fourth National Assembly.

He said the people of Ekpeye would continue to support Mr Wike and President Bola Tinubu.

He stated that people at the grassroots were capable of identifying leaders whose records demonstrated commitment to their welfare and development.

“I will personally go round every Ekpeye village during the coming campaigns to ensure 100 per cent support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, including our gubernatorial candidate, O. K. Chinda.”

Mr Nwuche described himself as a grassroots politician who had always remained close to the masses, just as his late father, Clifford Cheta Nwuche, had done.

He recalled that his late father was a community leader, a foremost oil and gas businessman, and was at some point chairman of the Nigeria Peoples Party in Rivers, before becoming King.

“I regularly visited the village to commune and interact with my people, attend village town hall meetings, and participate in local festivities.

“I love my people, and I know them. We will only follow those who have used power to do God’s work on earth by catering to the welfare of the masses to enhance their well-being, and not those who don’t know what to do with power except to aggrandise themselves, impoverish and oppress perceived enemies and the masses, or sow discord and communal crises that result in loss of lives.”

The former deputy speaker, who described himself as a “political scientist”, asserted that he understood Rivers politics and how it contributed to the underdevelopment of the state and its people before Mr Wike’s administration.

He stated that he would soon speak on the subject to educate younger generations who might not have witnessed the turbulence that characterised Rivers politics in the past and its adverse impact on the State and its people.

He advised Rivers people to remain vigilant and carefully assess the records of individuals presenting themselves for elective offices at the state and national levels.

Mr Nwuche urged the chairman of Ahoada East, Mr Ochoma, and other local government chairmen to emulate Mr Wike’s leadership style.

Traditional ruler seeks intervention for community school

Earlier, the Paramount Ruler of Ochigba Community, James Anyike, thanked Mr Nwuche for his gifts and for being a pillar of the community.

He also thanked the council chairman for his visit and the gestures extended to the community.

He highlighted two priority projects for the council chairman’s intervention: the completion of the school building at the permanent site of the Senior Secondary School, a project initiated by the community, and the construction of drainage at the major water outlet in the community, which has contributed to flooding during the rainy season.

The council chairman, Mr Ochoma said his visit was intended to thank the people of Ochigba and their leader, Mr Nwuche, for the support and votes they gave him during the election.

He recalled that during his campaign, he had promised to return to the community if elected, to thank the people and seek their input for governance.

Mr Nwuche presented gift items to the council chairman and others in his delegation as well as a cash donation to Ochigba Community.