With a deep sense of gratitude to God we at Kristina Reports felicitate with Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, on your victory at the polls and successful inauguration into a second term in office which took effect today. We equally appreciate your expressed understanding of the onerous responsibility this puts on your shoulders as exemplified in your inaugural address after being sworn in earlier today.

 

Let us begin by saying that the essence of politics is to provide needed leadership to give direction and vent to the collective aspirations of a people. In a nutshell, after politics, that is gaining political power, the next thing is leadership, which is using the power gained to create a better society. It is difficult to say if, in this regard, Rivers State has done so well.

 

It is also doubtful if the masses who ought to hold you accountable to your expressed policy goals and vision for the State and thus help steady you on the path of strategic leadership when you are digressing have not been carried away in the business of praise-singing and delusional analysis of what should be as a result of poverty and the quest for material gains.

 

Your Excellency, it is disturbing that regardless of the federal allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), Paris Club refunds, and bailout funds from the federal government accruing into the State’s coffers monthly, Rivers State remains high up in the poverty rating of States in the country, even poorer than South-East States that cannot boast of as much revenue as our dear State. There is still massive unemployment in Rivers State, the security challenge is alarming, among other indices that put us low on the development index.

 

Sir, as you celebrate the beginning of your second term and inauguration today, it is trite that these indicators bother you. As they say, ‘conscience is a wound, only the truth can heal it’. One may be wont to ask: what is the truth in this context? The performance of Rivers State in terms of its development credentials are not in tandem with the huge resources at its disposal.

 

As a media organization, we urge you to consider seriously the following suggestions after the euphoria of your inauguration has simmered.

 

1. Gather experts to develop sustainable development goals (SDGs) for Rivers State so that we can have direction as people.

 

2. Order the speedy commencement of the employments across government establishments you earlier announced lifting the employment embargo and also fast-track the long overdue promotions in the State civil service.

 

3. Consider imbricating youths into your administration and design a scheme to remove youths off the streets.

 

4. The Home for the Elderly needs massive state support as the elderly there are not being properly taken care of in Rivers State.

 

5. We also crave your indulgence to the poor maintenance culture of government owned properties. Let your administration alienate this poor maintenance culture. The State Secretariat complex is one good place to start.

 

6. Education is key; you understand that we cannot grow our educational sector if we do not invest in research and development. Prioritize the funding of state-owned institutions to engage in proper research and development that will bring about solutions to our immediate economic and socio-political strata.

 

7. Agriculture remains a huge cash cow and job creator. This can be a necessary distraction to the frustration in the land with regards to lack of jobs.

 

Conclusively, we note that ‘much words don’t make a man’, we must appreciate the fact that you have done well in fixing roads across the State capital. This needs to extend to the rural areas to divorce Rivers State from the toga of a one-city state. Also, we advise you do well to fix those who will make use of the roads.

 

May God bless Rivers state and those who say the truth regardless of the situation. May God bless you too as you make deliberate efforts to match words with action in actualizing your policy direction as expressed before that mammoth crowd at Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia today.

 

We are Kristina Reports. We support development.