By Akanimo Sampson
Rivers State Information and Communications Commissioner, Paulinus Nsirim, says his boss, Governor Nyesom Wike has made the big oil and gas state Nigeria’s development index.
Nsirim who is also a church pastor was speaking ahead of the forthcoming inauguration of 16 legacy projects and the flag-off 23 others on a live radio programme in Port Harcourt, the state capital this Monday.
He is appealing to the peoples of Rivers to rally Governor Wike who he said has changed the narrative of development in the NIger Delta area.
”He is passionate about Rivers State. He is putting in his all. The people should come out massively to show their solidarity to the governor.
”Governor Wike is the first governor in the history of Rivers under civil rule who is still working on massive infrastructural development in his second tenure as if he is in his first tenure”, the commissioner said.
On the claim by Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, on security crisis in the state, Nsirim said, ”in terms of security, Governor Wike has given massive support to security agencies to ensure this level of security we enjoy today which is far from what we use to have during the previous administration.
”In the time of Amaechi’s administration (2007-2015) cult activities were at its peak. Julius Berger couldn’t come to work in Rivers State because of insecurity.
”Today, it a common knowledge that the centre has failed to secure Nigerians. We have a clueless government at the centre and that’s the reason we have very high level of insecurity in the country.
”What is happening in Kaduna, Zamfara, Plateau, Benue, Kastina are all pointer to the failure of the centre.”
On youth unemployment, the commissioner said the issue has been on the front burner of Governor Wike’s administration to ensure that Rivers youths are gainfully employed.
”One very unique thing I have come to like about, Governor Wike is that he keeps every promise he makes to Rivers people. I can assure you that the employment of 5000 people will be implemented”, he adds.
Rivers State Government under the watch Governor Wike, according to him, has done so much in the development of education in the State with the rehabilitation of several secondary schools and training and retraining of primary and secondary schools teachers.
”You may wish to recall that the state government under the able leadership of Governor Wike has awarded scholarships to 500 Rivers students studying medicine and other medical sciences in the PAMO University of Medical Sciences.
”That is unprecedented. It implies that soon Rivers State will be exporting medical personnel to other states in the country”, Nsirim said even as he outlined some of the projects to include the Cassava Flour Processing company in Oyigbo.
Reeled out include Mother and Child Hospital at Rumumasi; Opobo/Nkoro road; Odufor-Umuoye Road, Etche; Umueze-Umogberi-Eberi Road, Omuma and the Rehabilitation centre at Iriebe.
Other projects include National Industrial Court Judges’ Quarters; Rivers State University (RSU) Senate Building; Isaiah Odolu Street, GRA; Herbert Macaulay / Nzimiro; Rumuigbo and William Jumbo/Enerst Ikoli/Eleme Streets, Old GRA.
Equally marked for the commissioning ceremonies scheduled to commence on Thursday are Community Secondary Schools at Obiagu, Oyibo; and Eteo in Eleme local Government area; National Union of Rivers State Students’ Secretariat and Pabod Breweries/Oginigba Roads.
