Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has assured that the governor-elect Siminalaye Fubara and his deputy governor-elect, Prof. Ngozi Odu will surpass his record of success.
Wike gave the assurance yesterday while speaking at a public lecture and book presentation in his honour at Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
The governor remarked that his administration enjoyed tremendous support from leaders and people of Rivers State to be reckoned with success his administration is celebrating.
He solicited same support should be given to his successor because if Fubara administration fails, it will mean that all that made it possible for him to emerge as the next governor, have failed.
Wike said: “I have that belief that the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect will do very very well. He is somebody you can rely on. His yes is yes, that I can tell you.
“He is an accountant, they are very conservative. They don’t spend money anyhow. They spend the money where they know it will be useful. So, don’t rate us as the same. But he is a very good person.”
The governor urged Rivers people to understand that no two persons are the same and therefore, should not expect the same level of relationship they experienced under his administration with the incoming government.
He said: “Don’t compare that the way I relate with you should be the way the incoming administration must relate with you, no. We have different styles but what’s important is being able to deliver what will make out people to be happy.”
Wike, however, enthused that governor-elect, Fubara will be committed to deliver on what will make Rivers people happy.
The governor said: “When people were struggling to be governors, he never one day came to me to say sir, I am interested.
“Only those don’t have interest of the State were those masquerading themselves, running around, those who I know that would sell the State the next day and I think God they have all left.
He emphasised that the journey had not been easy, but with focus, commitment and help from God, he surmounted the challenges.
Wike said: “If Rivers people were not in support of our administration, we would not have been encouraged to do what we have done. And so I say to all of you our leaders, Rivers people that I appreciate every support you have given to us since 2015.”
The governor also expressed appreciation to Dr Peter Odili, former governor of the State for writing down the list of things he should avoid if he wanted to succeed. According to him, that list helped him greatly.
Presenting the 2023 inauguration lecture entitled “Democracy, Transformational leadership and sustainable development: The Rivers experience,” Prof. Julius Ihonvbere acknowledged the tactically strategic politics of governor Wike that produced result in the State and beyond.
Ihonvbere said: “Wike brought in a new phase of domestic and international appreciation of the location of the state in economic calculations.
“In terms of infrastructure, there is no one in the history of the State that you can compare comfortable with Wike.
“Like a man in a hurry to finish an assignment, he u leashed massive interventions,often at great cost, on practically every sector especially health, education, administration of justice and rural development.”
