Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers
State says the nation is sinking down the
abyss and that only a united front will
reset it on the path of growth.
The governor regretted that either by
commission or omission, the Federal
Government has dragged the country into
its worst economic crisis in which
Nigerians find it difficult to feed.
In his special independence address
during the 56th Independence Anniversary
celebration at the Sharks Stadium in Port
Harcourt on Saturday, Wike lamented that
ordinary Nigerians were dying daily from
ailments that are ordinarily curable.
His words: “Just look at the situation of
our country at this material time. Never in
history has the seeds of disunity, distrust,
hatred; intolerance, violence, and
terrorism proliferated in our country than
now, not even in the years of the civil
war.
“By acts of omission or commission, the
federal government has pushed the nation
into its worst economic nightmare. With
inflation on the loose, poverty is
increasing as ordinary Nigerians are
finding it difficult to have one decent meal
in a day.
“Families are loosing loved ones to
curable ailments simply because they can
no longer afford necessary medications to
sustain their health and vitality.
“Worse still, just as our collective security
is being threatened by the activities of
motley terrorist groups, such as the Boko
Haram insurgents and Fulani herdsmen,
most Nigerians are increasingly becoming
disillusioned with the country’s failing
national institutions, for their inability to
mirror the nation’s character and values.”
He added that “it looks as if the country
is sinking irreversibly into the abyss, but
this is what happens when a country is
economically weak and dependent.
“The need therefore, for all of us to work
together with the three levels of
Government, to deliver real and
sustainable economic independence to our
country and our people remains the
greatest challenge before all of us.”
Governor Wike said that the earlier the
thorny issues affecting the nation are
addressed, the better for the development
of the country.
He also noted that the people of Rivers
State are proud of their contributions to
the development and economic growth of
Nigeria, pointing out that they deserve to
be rewarded according to their inputs to
the sustenance of the country.
“As Rivers people we are proud of our
contributions to the unity and progress of
the Nigerian nation. We remain committed
to preserving the unity and indivisibility of
Nigeria.
“All that we ask in return for our loyalty
and commitment is justice, mutual respect
and just recompenses for our
contributions and sacrifices to the
economic and social wellbeing of the
country”, he stated.
He explained that the Rivers State
Government through policies and
programmes has empowered the people
and improved their living condition.
The governor added that “as a deliberate
social policy, we concentrated more
resources to improve physical and socio-
economic infrastructure
in the State.
“Accordingly, apart from several major
roads that we have
already completed and commissioned,
work on all ongoing road projects spread
is progressing very well”.
He pointed out that projects in the area of
infrastructure, health
and education have improved the living
conditions of the people of
Rivers State.
The 56th Independence Anniversary
witnessed march past by the police,
paramilitary voluntary organisations and
schools.
State says the nation is sinking down the
abyss and that only a united front will
reset it on the path of growth.
The governor regretted that either by
commission or omission, the Federal
Government has dragged the country into
its worst economic crisis in which
Nigerians find it difficult to feed.
In his special independence address
during the 56th Independence Anniversary
celebration at the Sharks Stadium in Port
Harcourt on Saturday, Wike lamented that
ordinary Nigerians were dying daily from
ailments that are ordinarily curable.
His words: “Just look at the situation of
our country at this material time. Never in
history has the seeds of disunity, distrust,
hatred; intolerance, violence, and
terrorism proliferated in our country than
now, not even in the years of the civil
war.
“By acts of omission or commission, the
federal government has pushed the nation
into its worst economic nightmare. With
inflation on the loose, poverty is
increasing as ordinary Nigerians are
finding it difficult to have one decent meal
in a day.
“Families are loosing loved ones to
curable ailments simply because they can
no longer afford necessary medications to
sustain their health and vitality.
“Worse still, just as our collective security
is being threatened by the activities of
motley terrorist groups, such as the Boko
Haram insurgents and Fulani herdsmen,
most Nigerians are increasingly becoming
disillusioned with the country’s failing
national institutions, for their inability to
mirror the nation’s character and values.”
He added that “it looks as if the country
is sinking irreversibly into the abyss, but
this is what happens when a country is
economically weak and dependent.
“The need therefore, for all of us to work
together with the three levels of
Government, to deliver real and
sustainable economic independence to our
country and our people remains the
greatest challenge before all of us.”
Governor Wike said that the earlier the
thorny issues affecting the nation are
addressed, the better for the development
of the country.
He also noted that the people of Rivers
State are proud of their contributions to
the development and economic growth of
Nigeria, pointing out that they deserve to
be rewarded according to their inputs to
the sustenance of the country.
“As Rivers people we are proud of our
contributions to the unity and progress of
the Nigerian nation. We remain committed
to preserving the unity and indivisibility of
Nigeria.
“All that we ask in return for our loyalty
and commitment is justice, mutual respect
and just recompenses for our
contributions and sacrifices to the
economic and social wellbeing of the
country”, he stated.
He explained that the Rivers State
Government through policies and
programmes has empowered the people
and improved their living condition.
The governor added that “as a deliberate
social policy, we concentrated more
resources to improve physical and socio-
economic infrastructure
in the State.
“Accordingly, apart from several major
roads that we have
already completed and commissioned,
work on all ongoing road projects spread
is progressing very well”.
He pointed out that projects in the area of
infrastructure, health
and education have improved the living
conditions of the people of
Rivers State.
The 56th Independence Anniversary
witnessed march past by the police,
paramilitary voluntary organisations and
schools.
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