Nwuche says Wike's tenure as governor is unmatched in Rivers

Amid the back-and-forth between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the APC governors over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, praised the minister for the roads and other infrastructure in Rivers during his time as governor.

Wike served as Rivers governor from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023.

Nwuche, who is the chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission, spoke highly of Wike during a thank-you visit from the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Solomon Ochoma, to his hometown of Ochigba Community on 12 September.

The former speaker, who was represented at the event by Kingdom Ajugo and Vision Paul, recently expressed his support for Wike’s Rainbow Coalition in Rivers. He called the coalition a “political masterstroke.”

“It has created leeway and an important political opening that allows individuals and groups who may belong to opposition parties to support the President’s re-election without necessarily having to abandon their political parties,” he said.

Nwuche highlighted the level of infrastructure development in Rivers under Wike as unprecedented. He noted that over 1,000 kilometres of roads were completed and commissioned throughout the state.

He explained that these projects linked rural areas to cities, opened up places that were hard to reach, and boosted local businesses.

Nwuche pointed out some key projects. These include the dualisation of the 16.06-kilometre Saakpenwa-Bori Highway, which passes through Tai, Khana, and Gokana local government areas. He also mentioned the rehabilitation of the 11.53-kilometre Eleme-Afam (Oyigbo) Road, and the completion of the Nkoro-Opobo section of the Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni Unity Road, which was started during the time of former Governor Peter Odili.

He noted that the completion of this road allowed people to reach the historic Opobo Kingdom by road.

Other projects he mentioned are the dualisation of the Ahoada-Omoku Road with street lighting, the building of 10 flyovers in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas to reduce traffic jams in the state capital, and the launch of the ongoing 12.5-kilometre Trans-Kalabari Road project.

Nwuche also talked about various projects in education, health, security, and social sectors that were carried out during Wike’s administration.

He specifically thanked Wike for the development projects in Ekpeye Kingdom. He said these projects were a big change from the experiences of previous civilian administrations since 1999.

He listed projects like the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road, Ahoada-Odhiemerenyi-Ihugbogo-Odhieke roads, Ahoada-Ekpena Road, Ogbo-Ihugbogo Road, Odhiemudie Road, Odioku internal roads, and the Obodhi-Ozochi Road, including the bridge over the Orashi River.

Other projects included the Ula-Ehuda-Odhioku-Odhireke Road, the remodelling of Western Ahoada County High School, Ahoada, the Ahoada Campus of Rivers State University, the Mbiama-Orkaki-Agbo Road, Odhioku Primary Health Care Centre, Ahoada Regional Hospital, and the Odido Road and bridge, among others.

Nwuche said that for the first time since 1999, Ekpeye Kingdom had seen a “significant concentration and spread” of development projects carried out by the Rivers State Government under Wike.

He stated that before Wike’s time, Ekpeye people were mostly recognized for their votes during elections but forgotten after.

He complained that past administrations often took advantage of divisions among Ekpeye residents and leaders while neglecting development.

Nwuche challenged anyone who disagreed to show significant projects done in Ekpeye land by previous administrations from 1999 to 2015.

He thanked Wike for building the Edeoha-Ikata-Ochigba Road, which was first awarded during former Governor Rotimi Amaechi's administration but abandoned.

He mentioned that the road was finally completed and commissioned in February 2018 by the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba.

Nwuche prayed for Na’Abba's soul to rest in peace, recalling that he worked closely with him during the Fourth National Assembly.

He said the people of Ekpeye will continue to support Wike and President Bola Tinubu.

He said grassroots people can recognize leaders who truly care for their welfare and development.

“I will personally go round every Ekpeye village during the coming campaigns to ensure 100 per cent support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, including our gubernatorial candidate, O. K. Chinda.”

Nwuche introduced himself as a grassroots politician who always stays close to the people, just like his late father, Clifford Cheta Nwuche.

He remembered his father as a community leader, a leading businessman in oil and gas, and a former chairman of the Nigeria Peoples Party in Rivers before becoming King.

“I regularly visited the village to commune and interact with my people, attend village town hall meetings, and participate in local festivities.

“I love my people, and I know them. We will only follow those who have used power to do good by taking care of the people and not those who use power for selfish gains, to oppress others, or to create conflict that leads to loss of lives.”

The former deputy speaker, who called himself a “political scientist,” said he understands Rivers politics and how it has affected the state's development before Wike’s tenure.

He promised to speak about this soon to educate younger generations who may not know the troubled past of Rivers politics and its effects on the state and its people.

Nwuche advised Rivers people to stay alert and carefully review the records of individuals seeking elective positions in the state and at the national level.

He urged the chairman of Ahoada East, Mr Ochoma, and other local government chairmen to follow Wike’s leadership style.