Sanwo Olu In PH, Commends Wike For Infrastructure Development

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday charged politicians, political leaders and public office holders across political and ideological divides to come together for the good of the people.

He said there are lots of things political leaders and public office holders can learn from one another’s experience in different parts of the country if they embrace politics without bitterness.

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the advice while commissioning the Orochiri-Worukwo (waterlines) Flyover, Port Harcourt, built by Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration in Rivers State.

 

Sanwo-Olu commended Wike for his strong commitment to the delivery of physical infrastructure in Rivers State, noting that the governor’s effort has been recognised by all and sundry and has earned him the appellation of “Mr. Projects” within and outside Rivers State.

He also congratulated the people of Rivers State on the birth of the major piece of infrastructure that will, no doubt, positively change their lives, but also ultimately serve as the crucial springboard into more social and economic prosperity.

 

 

 

“Governor Nyesom Wike and I belong to different political persuasions, but this invitation today sends a very strong message, that we, as politicians and political leaders, can come together across political and ideological divides, for the good of our people.

“Infrastructure projects do not discriminate; they belong to everyone, regardless of your politics. They make life easier for all, regardless of who you voted for in the past or plan to vote for in the future.

 

 

 

“There is also a strong message being made today about expanding our capacity to play politics without bitterness. This symbolic gesture by my friend and brother is one that should become standard practice across Nigeria. There is also a lot that we can learn from one another, and experience that we can translate from one part of the country to the other.

 

 

 

“Because Lagos and Rivers share a number of similar contexts, it is imperative that we put a lot more work into creating institutional mechanisms for comparing notes and learning from each other, with regards to solving the challenges of urban planning, transportation, climate change, security, revenue generation, business climate and others.

 

 

 

“Ultimately, we are all in governance to touch the lives of the people for good; to deliver to them the dividends of democracy. There is no doubt that Governor Wike has spent his last seven years focused on this; just as we have similarly been doing in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu said.

 

 

 

While commending Governor Wike for his strong commitment to the delivery of physical infrastructure in Rivers State, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “This Orochiri-Worukwo (Waterlines) Flyover is just one of several impactful projects that the Rivers State Government has delivered over the last seven years, under the watch of His Excellency. I am told that there are around a dozen major flyover projects in all, completed and ongoing, and I am also aware that there are still many other projects across various sectors, which will be duly commissioned within the life of this administration.

 

 

 

“The new Flyover being commissioned today, as you can all see, is a design and implementation masterpiece, at almost a kilometer long, and a total of eight (8) lanes, supported by a robust flood-control system and underground drainage. Governor Wike is very much a “Talk and Do” Governor.”

 

 

 

Speaking on the relationship between Rivers and Lagos states, Governor Sanwo-Olu said people are drawn to Lagos and to Port Harcourt as places where economic opportunities abound and where their dreams can be achieved.

 

 

 

He said: “Rivers and Lagos states share a lot in common. We are both densely populated economic centers, dealing with similar challenges of a rapidly growing population, urbanization, climate change, and increasing pressure on our physical infrastructure. We both have fairly extensive coastlines and coverage by water.

 

 

 

“Unlike Rivers, however, we are still hopeful that our own crude oil will reveal itself to us in large quantities very soon. People are drawn to Lagos and to Port Harcourt as places where economic opportunities abound and where their dreams can be achieved, and every day, large numbers of people flock to these cities from across the country.

 

 

 

“Our approaches to solving our challenges have also been similar, focusing on investing in projects that will ease bottlenecks and expand our capacity to absorb pressure, like this Flyover being commissioned today.  It will no doubt improve the commuting experience of the people of Port Harcourt, and by extension the quality of their lives. They will be able to spend less time stuck in traffic, which means more time is available for truly productive activities, and for leisure.”

 

 

 

Wike declared that anybody who despises the political capability of the State will be meted with the same treatment.

 

 

The Rivers State governor explained that the dynamics of contemporary politics has made it unpopular to just gift votes away without the assurance of derivable benefit for the people.

 

“If you say Rivers State does not matter, Rivers State will tell you that you don’t also matter at the appropriate time. If you don’t like us, we will not like you. If you like us, we will like you.

 

“Nobody will use our votes for nothing. Our votes will matter and Rivers State must benefit from anybody that we are going to support.

 

“Politics now is no longer just vote for somebody, it is about what you will do for the people of Rivers State.”

 

Governor Wike pointed to how difficult it will be for any conspirators to upset the voting pattern of Rivers State and support for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

 

The governor reiterated that those who looted the treasury of the State will not be supported to become governor of Rivers State.

 

“My guest from Lagos State, let nobody tell you story that anybody will come here to win as governor of Rivers State. It will not happen.

 

“Those who looted the treasury of the State will not come here to be governor of Rivers State and I have challenged them.

 

“I am fully in charge. I am not that kind of governor people will go to Abuja and hold meetings against. I am fully in charge here.”

 

Governor Wike also berated Mr. Yemi Adebowale over his ThisDay publication in which he peddled misinformation in his ‘RingTrue’ column article titled, ” Wike, a Governor Possessed By Spirit of Flyovers.”

 

The governor noted the obvious unhappy mindset of the writer for his dislikes for development and hatred for Rivers people who are happy with the ongoing development strides of his administration.

 

“First of all, let me state, if there is one State that pays salary regularly, it is Rivers State. Let me also state, every month we pay pensioners. Let me also state since we have been paying gratuity, have you been hearing anybody talking on radio?

 

Governor Wike also challenged those who are envious of his development strides to rather show what capacity they have by executing projects and invite renown persons to inaugurate them.

 

He explained the invitation of the Lagos State governor is not the first time persons of other political parties were invited to inaugurate projects in Rivers State.

 

He pointed to the overall benefits such invitations have on governance because it served as peer review for them.

 

 

 

In his speech, Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Juergen Fischer, noted that history had been made with the opening for public use the 7th Flyover awarded to them for construction.

 

He thanked Governor Wike for the trust reposed in Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to handle such huge projects for the State Government.