Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says any government that does not take care of the less privileged in the society is bound to fail.

The governor made the assertion while speaking on Friday at the inauguration of the Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe in Obio/Apkor Local Government Area.

Governor Wike stated that his administration places a premium on catering to the needs of people with social, psychological and other forms of disabilities and that is why an effective, caring and sober living rehabilitation home has been provided for them.

“In life, like I’ve said, building roads alone is not enough. Building health centres alone is not enough. Building educational facilities alone are not enough.

“Any government that does not take care of the less privileged, that does not take care of those who may not have access to education and health, that government is doom for failure.”

The governor noted that misfortune could befall some people and compelled them into a lifestyle that is not approved by society. According to him, such persons need a well-meaning government to factor them into schemes that will provide them with a future.

“They might have taken to drugs because, maybe, our own faults. Some people lack that parental care and have been lured into all kinds of vices. But we blame them.

“However, society must provide for them. Some of them may have been the best if they were in school. Some of them would have been the best if they were working. So, you need to provide a place (Rehab) for them. A place where they can be talked to, be counselled and eventfully come back to life (sanity).”

Governor Wike commended the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation and said he is well pleased with the success of her ministry, particularly the edifice being inaugurated.

The governor approved an N200 million grant to the ministry that will enable it to attend to the daily requirements of the rehabilitation centre.

Performing the inauguration, the former National Assembly representative for Niger South constituency of Niger State, Senator Zaynab A. Kure said Governor Wike is a development minded leader.

Senator Kure spoke of Governor Wike as gender-friendly leadership for having a female deputy and worked amicably with a female while he served as a Minister of State (Education).

According to her, development is not about roads alone, but it must also address the health of the people, both young and old.

“You picked a female as a deputy. Right from the time you picked her, nobody has heard of friction between you and the deputy governor.

“It shows how gender-friendly you are, and of course, how passionate, and tolerant you are of the development of Rivers State ditto the whole nation.”

She further commended the governor for reviving the centre which will help the government tackle the problem of mental health of the State, particularly at this time when Nigerians are grappling with the challenge of depression.

In her address, Commissioner for Social Welfare and rehabilitation, Mrs Inime Chinwenwo- Aguma said the old structure was overcrowded, dilapidated and suffered manual flooding with no medical centre and vocational training facility.

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According to her, it became difficult for the centre to perform its core function and service to the vagrant lunatics, beggars and destitute often evacuated off the streets of Port Harcourt.

“This administration (of Wike) deemed it pertinent to remodel (reconstruct) the rehabilitation Centre. The re-established centre is now comprised of; an administrative building equipped with learning centres.

“A service building with kitchen, dining hall and laundry room. Staff building, separate hostels for inmates, an isolation centre, sickbay and recreational area.”