As the crisis in the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to rage, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Royal Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, has paid the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike a courtesy call.
This is as former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, said that it is impossible to wish Governor Wike away in the PDP, stressing that anybody doing so is the real enemy of the party.
Fayose, who said this while inaugurating the Community Secondary School Obuama Harry’s Town in Degema Local Government Area, on Friday, insisted that “there is no living person in the party and outside this party that will not acknowledge your contributions to this party. You are the soul of this party.”
He decried the situation where “most people think that they must destroy leaders before they can rise, which is hardly possible,” noting that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has nothing against Wike, but a lot of people around him are the enemies creating the tension between the two and within the party.
“For me, I want to believe that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is not against you. But let me say this quickly, a lot of people surrounding the throne are enemies of the throne.
“A lot of people surrounding the throne have one axe or the other to grind with somebody, or some issues with somebody, and they take it to where they’re not supposed to take it,” he said.
He, therefore, urged those close to the presidential candidate to desist from creating disaffection between him and Wike and allow him (Atiku) to unify the party as the 2023 general elections draw near, noting that “Wike has not come out to say that Atiku Abubakar is not the presidential candidate. He is. I was there the second day after the election when our candidate, the former vice president visited the residence of governor Wike.
“We had mutual conversation. We were all happy. Everything was in place to move forward. I spoke at that meeting. But I don’t want to aggravate this situation. I’m only appealing to people that matter,” he said, apparently referring to Wike’s revelation of the promises that Atiku made at that meeting that have not been kept.
Gov. Wike, at the inauguration ceremony, explained the rationale behind the implementation of an inclusive development agenda for the State pointing out that while most people hardly see beyond the delivery of road projects executed by his administration, it is because the roads are more visible and will lure investors to the State.
“While we are trying to do more of the roads is because it attracts development. If there are no roads, people will not go and build houses. If there are no roads, people will not invest.
“But when you have good network of roads, such will encourage people who want to invest in the State to do so.”
He stressed that his administration has also given sufficient development attention to improving structures, teaching and learning facilities in the education sector.
“All through this week, we have been busy trying to, and letting the people understand what we are doing in the education sector.
“Before, people were saying is it only roads we are doing. Since Monday, we have been talking about tertiary education. Now, we are talking about basic education.
“By the time we finish, we will also go to the health sector and let the state see what we have done in that sector.
“So, for me, it is touching all-round the sectors because no one sector can be said to be more important than the other.”
Governor Wike informed that it was his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who called his attention to the poor state of the community school in Obuama, and he immediately directed for a total upgrade of structure and learning facility.
“To God be glory, we have been able to put in our best to make it be a proper secondary school that our children will not only have access to education, but also have quality education.
“I’m sure by the time you take your time after this event, to go round the premises and see some of the structures, you’ll be quite convinced of the quality that we have been able to put in place.
“And so, we are happy that we are here. This terrain is waterlogged, actually it will be difficult if you don’t do concrete pavement like this. If you want to asphalt it, I don’t think it will last long. But with this concrete they’ve done, I’m sure it’s going to last long.”
Speaking further, governor Wike directed the Ministry of Special Projects to within the next two weeks, provide him with an architectural design for the building of two hostels, one for boys and the other for female students at the school.
“Since it is a mixed school, do design, one for boys and one for the girls. Then, there will be a dining hall for them. Since you have provided accommodation for the teachers, then there should be hostels for the students.”
In his description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla said there are 2 blocks of 2 storey buildings of 12 classrooms, one model storey building of 12 classrooms, a storey building as administrative block, library, ICT and science laboratories, quarters for senior and junior principals and staff.
In his address, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedu Mmom said no industrial action has been witnessed under governor Wike.
So far, Prof. Mmon noted, the State government has improved over 125 educational facilities in the primary, secondary and tertiary learning cadre, sustained the free basic education policy, sponsored about 29,250 students to write Basic Certificate Examination and 39,750 students for NECO and WAEC.
The Sultan of Sokoto visited Rivers State to declare open the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) 37th Annual National Conference on Friday.
