By Akanimo Sampson
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s big oil and gas states has started charging the incoming local government chairmen to brace for meaningful development projects at the grassroots.
Wike who was speaking in Ogoniland at the weekend specifically charged the incoming Chairmen of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme to endeavour to initiate and implement projects that will enhance the wellbeing of their people.
Governor Wike noted that Ogoni is an important integrate part of Rivers and Nigeria, and urged their leaders to fight against the menace of cultism and other related acts of criminality.
He also said that the decision of Southern governors on open grazing and other issues is irrevocable and must be respected.
According to him, those opposed to resolutions taken by the governors in Asaba, the Delta State capital, should realise that no section of the country is inferior to others.
Wike stated these during a grand reception held in his honour by the Ogoni ethnic nationality in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
He governor announced that he has taken further steps to fulfill the resolutions reached by the Southern governors in Asaba.
“We have taken a position and no going back. Enough is enough. We are not second class citizens of this country. We also own this country.”
Not impressed with slow pace of the Ogoni environmental remediation, the governor charged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), which is saddled with the responsibility of the cleanup of polluted sites in Ogoni, to relocate its operational office from Port Harcourt to Bori, the headquarters of the Ogoni people.
“You cannot talk of cleaning up a place and keep your office in another area. Bring your office from Port Harcourt and come and stay in Bori, So that you can hear and appreciate the feelings of the people.”
Governor Wike recalled that when he launched his quest to govern Rivers in 2014, he received tremendous support from Ogoni people.
In appreciation, his administration has been graciously fulfilling its promise to dualise the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road and has gone further to award contract for the phase two of the project from Bori to Kono valued at N14 billion.
Governor Wike acknowledged that the people of Ogoni have remained steadfast in their support of his administration.
The governor therefore directed the Commissioner of Power and in coming chairman of Khana Local Government Area, to ensure the electrification of all communities in the council that are not connected to the national grid within the next five months.
Wike who was conferred with the title: Mene Kwalenu 1st of Ogoni, (a benevolent king) by the President of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, G.N.K Giniwa, assured that his administration will continue to ensure even development of every part of the state.
President of Kagote, Emmanuel Deeyah, said the reception was organised in honour of the governor because Ogoni people are beneficiaries of the unprecedented infrastructural developments witnessed in the state since he assumed office.
“In this light we respectfully place on record our gratitude for the various appointments and elective offices that came to our sons and daughters through your singular effort. Due to several infrastructural development programs and projects that you have executed in our local government areas both completed and some ongoing are scattered all over the place.”
similarly, Senator Magnus Abe, lauded the governor for improving infrastructure in Ogoni land.
“This is not a gathering of the Ogoni people from which any Ogoni man that is proud to be an Ogoni man can afford to be absent.
”The good politician is not the one that has the most number of enemies, it is the one that has the most number of friends.”
Former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, said Ogoni people will remain eternally grateful to Governor Wike for his developmental strides in Ogoni.
Mitee explained that during his reign as MOSOP president, he had appealed to all past Rivers governors to dualise the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road but none except Governor Wike harkened to him and other Ogoni leaders.
Present at the event were Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, Senator Barry Mpigi, Honourable Dumnamene Dekor, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ikuinyi O. Ibani, and leaders of the Ogoni nationality.
