From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has expressed the need for Nigerians to consider giving Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike the opportunity to serve them at the national level.
He maintained that if Rivers State is lucky to have Wike, Nigerians would be luckier to have a man with the vision of knowing how to harness resources in improving the quality of life of the citizenry.
Governor Mohammed spoke at the flag-off of construction work at the site of the Rumukwurushi-Elimgbu flyover in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Monday.
The Bauchi State governor said ‘on behalf of everybody here, I want to say thank you because I wish you’ll be given the opportunity to bring this type of vision to the national level where you will be able to come and contribute your quota.’
The Bauchi State governor said he felt humbled and honoured to flag off the Rumukwurushi-Elimgbu flyover project, which is the 10th flyover that Governor Wike has provided for his people within his second tenure.
‘Again, you can see the fidelity. The sincerity of purpose. I am not in my second term; but, I cannot remember any second term governor doing this kind of infrastructure, delivering to his people,’ he stated.
‘He is not here for himself. I am not praising him. There is nothing that he will give me that I don’t have. But, I really envy him for what he is. He is for his people.
‘When some second term governors are busy preparing to go home, this man is even breaking new frontiers, doing new projects, and giving timelines and finances that will be able to be delivered during his tenure.’
Governor Mohammed said Governor Wike has distinguished himself as the new face of leadership in Nigeria.
According to him, such a leadership style has raised the bar of subnational leadership in the country, making it more attractive and a thing of pride to be associated with the Rivers State governor.
‘Some of his templates that have really been implemented; some of them, you can touch them in terms of improving the quality of life of our people.
‘We are copying from him because we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. He has done so much. He says the truth and does the right thing. You can see the conceptualisation. The way and manner the projects were conceptualised and financed.’
Governor Mohammed noted that barely one year after the general elections, he can only imagine that a governor would love his people so much and continue to invest resources for the progress of their society and economy with new projects.
‘That shows you that he wants to do so much and fulfil his promises. And that will spur me and encourage me to go back to Bauchi State and to still do more projects. Maybe, I will have the benefits of second term. But, the time I have, I must use it very well,’ he stated.
In his speech, Governor Wike said his administration owes it as a duty to Rivers people to deliver social services and quality projects that would improve their living conditions.
He explained that the Rumukwurushi-Elimgbu flyover was the 10th flyover and a part of his administration’s promise to the people.
Governor Wike assured it would be delivered in the next 10 months because 80 per cent of the contract sum had already been paid to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
‘What is important in governance is when public officers or elected public officers make promise to their people, to the electorate, there must not be any excuse not to fulfil such promises,’ he stated.
‘I told the people of Rivers State, by the special grace of God, I was going to construct 10 flyovers before I leave office . And let it be known these 10 flyovers were not awarded from 2015, no. These 10 flyovers were awarded from 2019 till this date.’
Governor Wike stated that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has remained consistent with his pact with the electorate, unlike other parties that hardly can fulfil promises they make during the campaign period.
Wike said such politicians who hardly keep promises hinge their confidence on hijacking electoral materials to smuggle themselves into office.
He said with President Muhammadu Buhari signing of the Electoral Act Amendment into law means every politician will have to show evidence of service to seek the support of the electorate.
According to him, the period of using soldiers and thugs to snatch and hijack electoral materials has gone because with the card reader and transmission of election results electronically, votes cannot be compromised.
‘The Electoral Act that the president has appended his signature, the good thing there now is, operation show what you have done.
‘The period of using soldiers to carry ballot is over. The period of using police to carry ballot papers is over. The period of using our boys to hijack materials is over.’
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the Rumukwurushi-Elimgbu flyover that is 8.40 meters long, and 17. 6 meters wide with a median would be completed in 10 months.
He said, when completed, it will enhance rapid development of real estate activities and boost commerce in the area.
The Managing Director of Julius Berger, Lars Richter, assured that the company will deliver the project on time and according to specification.
Earlier, the Rivers State government and Julius Berger had signed a contractual agreement for the Rumukwurushi-Elimgbu flyover at the Government House, Port Harcourt.