Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has become a phenomenon of sorts in the Nigerian political landscape. His uncommon leadership style has put him on a pedestal higher than all his political opponents.
His political sagacity, courageous and bold decision making in leadership has set him aside as a special breed in our contemporary time among his peers.
Wike’s charismatic leadership style that has always confounded his opponents and political naysayers, which has suddenly made him a case study for aspiring students of politics.
Hate him or like him, this is one man that can never be ignored for a moment, because he will always make things happen positively.
Give him a little opportunity to serve, Wike will break new grounds; he will re-write history where others have failed in the past.
This is exactly what happened when he took over office on May 29, 2015, as the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
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As it was widely reported then, Wike inherited a comatose Rivers State, in all ramifications. The commercial economy had collapsed to alarming proportions; critical infrastructure had generally deteriorated beyond palliative remediation, and there was pathetic dilapidation of structures across all sectors.
It was a matter of time for Wike to bring amazing transformation to the state through his ingenuity within eight years leaving the whole nation bewildered as to the magic wand employed to achieve this great feat.
A fair and objective appraisal of his administration’s achievements as a governor, will reveal that there’s arguably no sector in the state that had not been positively reformed under his watch.
He etched his name in gold with a garland of honour so much that an opposition President Muhammad Buhari gave him a National Honour as ‘Mr. Project’.
There is no doubt, Wike has set a record through his outstanding performance as the governor of Rivers State that will take time to erase by any of his successors.
For a record purpose, these are some of the few landmark projects he embarked upon while in office.
They include: the iconic Bori-Sakpenwa-Kono highway (Phase 1), Cassava Flour Processing Plant, Oyibo; Mother and Child Hospital, Rumuomasi; Opobo axis of the Unity Road, Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe and Judges’ Quarters.
The ambience of Port Harcourt and Obio-AKpor local government areas, which harbour the capital city, has been majestically transformed as over seven flyovers were completed.
The flyovers are providing fantastic, jaw-dropping scenic beauty in the daytime and at night with glittering street lights, walkways and drainage.
In addition to these, new campuses of Rivers State University (RSU) at Emohua, Etche and Ahoada, as well as projects at the Nigerian Law School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and the sprawling spread of the Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt, just to mention, but a few.
Nyesom Wike was also appointed Minister of FCTA in August 2023. But this political colossus resonated loudly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu immediately he resumed.
Within nine months in the saddle of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wike made a bold statement that a new sheriff had arrived, with sign-post projects in Abuja.
To the consternation of his political opponents, Wike broke new grounds with landmark projects that transformed the entire landscape, thus giving Abuja the real status of a capital city.
His critics were confused while the ruling party members were celebrating his records of performance as the achievements of President Tinubu in the countdown to the one-year anniversary celebration.
He suddenly became the ‘poster minister’ of the Tinubu administration. Unarguably, Wike’s name is synonymous with success as he changed the trajectory of FCTA administration in a jiffy.
For a record purpose, some of these landmark projects are documented as follows: Construction of the official residence of the Vice President, which was awarded in 2010, previously abandoned, but now completed.
Another project was the rehabilitation of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) system, now being used for commercial operations, access roads to the train stations, and parking lots.
Also completed was the extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) from the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) to the Southern Parkway, made up of 3.8km length of 10 lanes expressway.
The ISEX enables East-west movement on the southern flank of the city, linking the Abuja–Keffi highway.
The full scope development of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1 Junction, including four interchanges, was also completed.
The OSEX is the primary road bounding the Federal Capital City (FCC) on the southern flank, connecting the city with the Kaduna–Abuja–Lokoja Federal Highway.
Wike also completed the interchange bridge, linking Wuye and Wuse I District under the provision of Wuye District Infrastructure project.
The full scope development of the Arterial Road, N-20, from Northern Parkway (Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway) to Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway) was also partly completed.
The project involves the development of about 5.6 km of road, with interchanges at Kubwa and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua expressways, made of two main carriageways of three lanes each, making a total of six lanes.
It also includes the construction of two interchanges with four bridges, in addition to other facilities.
Another milestone of the Wike-led FCTA was the completion of the provision of engineering infrastructure to Guzape District Lot II.
The project consisted of the development of 30.80km roads, 33km underground stormwater drainages, and 53km underground foul drainages.
It also provided a 33.5km potable water supply network, 22 box culverts, one electrical power substation and 80 compact unit transformers.
Also provided was a 163 km electrical cable network, 50km telecommunication ducts and construction of one fully-equipped mini–sewage treatment plant.
Wike also completed the rehabilitation and resurfacing of existing roads Arterial Road Corridor (Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah Way), in Institution and Research District.
The projects provided access roads to some institutions and government agencies such as the Institute of Human Virology, Federal Medical Centre, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, National Open University of Nigeria, Body of Benchers, and some private institutions like Baze University.
Other completed projects included the renovation of the FCT minister’s residence in Life Camp and the construction of an 11km access road from the Airport Expressway to Kuje Township. The minister equally completed the resurfacing of 189 roads covering 57 km within the Abuja city centre. As of today, the workaholic FCTA minister is busy flagging off new projects every day in Abuja.
This is what the Vice President, Kazeem Shettima said about Wike in one of the official commissioning ceremonies held early this year:
“Once again, we’re here to commission another landmark project executed by the one and only Nyesom Wike,” Shettima stated, adding that “His dedication and commitment to public service are indeed remarkable, making him a shining example of what a public officer should represent.”
This open commendation aptly summarised what Nyesome Wike represents in public service.
