By Olusegun Olanrewaju
For Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, it’s another date of encounter with honour and garlands.

This is because the Federal government will today be given the prestigious award of ‘Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery’ at the Nigeria Excellence in Public Service Award held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Ahead of today, a letter had been addressed to the governor from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

It was signed on behalf of the government scribe, Boss Mustapha, by the Permanent Secretary (General Services), Nnamdi Mbaeri.

In honour of the state governor, aptly decorated as ‘Mr Projects’ by all and sundry, President Muhammadu Buhari, will present the award to the hard-working, result-oriented governor today, amid a collection of A-list guests at the high-profile venue.

Giving the reasons for the award the Federal Government said, “Since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, Governor Wike has been widely acclaimed for his infrastructural revolution, which has seen him impacting on all facets of development.”
The government also noted the giant strides of the cerebral governor in road construction and rehabilitation, as well as the construction of unprecedented 12 flyovers in the state, spanning healthcare infrastructure; education, health, sports, and agriculture, among others.

In response, Wike appreciated the Federal Government’s efforts in recognising his achievements in Rivers State infrastructural development. He has vowed not to rest on his oars until his last day in office. Nigerians, who have been following the giant strides of the governor in uplifting the living standards of his people by way of infrastructure boost, have been baring their minds on the award.

“This is not a fallacy, Wike has proven his mettle here in our state. We have been following his achievements and could only wish there were more times to improve our lot,” a trader told ThisNigeria yesterday.

In the same vein, cleric, James Okolo, said, “They say this and that about the man, but no governor in our state has performed better than him in terms of infrastructural development. He is, indeed, a ‘Mr Projects’. Wike deserves all the honour.”

A civil servant also echoes the opinion of the establishment when he declared, “Fired by the need to change the state’s development trajectory and inspired by the people’s overwhelming support, Governor Wike has done for Rivers State what most people believed seemed impossible, given the poor state of the national economy.

“I am talking in terms of dwindling revenues, and the systemic sectoral decay that he inherited from the previous administration in this state. In short, it is difficult to enumerate the quantum of projects our amiable governor has executed.”

Going down memory lane recently in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the governor stated that, contrary to claims that he received complimentary funds from the Federal Government to execute the landmark projects in his state, the state only got N52bn from Abuja.

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His legacy of achievements in road and building construction is hard to match by any state government in Nigeria. These include landmark buildings and construction darted at road infrastructure, rural development, educational advancement, economic progress and empowerment, healthcare delivery, housing development, administration of justice, security improvement agricultural boost, sports (facilities) development, culture, and tourism upgrade, among other since the inception of his administration on May 29, 2019, and under his ‘Transformation Agenda’

“The only way we can show gratitude to the people for the confidence reposed in us by the people is to continue to serve them with all our hearts and might. I will continue to commission projects until the last day. We can’t stop.

The governor said, “We were elected to serve the people. We will continue to offer quality services to our people. Even our worst critics will agree that we have delivered excellently on our campaign promises. Never the one to rest on his oars, Wike said of the award, “It is not enough for the government to build only physical infrastructure and ignore the welfare of the less-privileged masses in the society.

Speaking at Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre in Iriebe, Wike pointed out that any government that does not take care of the less privileged or canvass for peace will not be successful.

Replying to critics who accused him of paying too much attention to the construction of flyovers and roads against the development of human capital risks failure.

But Wike said it was because his administration placed a premium on catering to the needs of the people, especially those with special psychological and other forms of disabilities.

As the governor, Wike stands on the podium in the nation’s capital to receive his award today, Nigerians wish him more success in his future projects abroad.