[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here is an African adage that says from the very first steps of a child its future can be foretold. That appears to be the case with Rivers State under its new leadership. From the very first steps of the government, it is becoming apparent and reassuring that it is a government that is seriously committed to the business of governance with a marked deviation from its predecessor.
Let me quickly assure you that it is not the intention of this piece to eulogise Chief Nyesom Wike, the current Governor of Rivers State but to embark on a comparative analysis of the approaches to governance between the current and immediate past administrations in the State in order to extract valuable lessons in governance for the rest of society.
On the 29th of May, 2015, while delivering in his inaugural speech, Governor Wike informed Rivers people and indeed, the whole nation, that he would seek collaborative partnership with the Federal Government in order to better the lives and improve the fortunes of Rivers people. This was marked deviation from the posture of the immediate past administration, which gained national notoriety for being constantly at loggerheads with the Federal government. Many, including me, believed it was the proper rhetoric of the moment and was good for the politics of the State. Beyond that, not much consideration was accorded the statement.
However, beyond that rhetoric, it has become apparent, given the actions of the government, that the Governor meant every word he said on his inauguration day and that he is determined to stabilise Rivers State and embark on the rebuilding process it desperately craves.
Since then, many good things have happened. Consider the East/ West Road for instance. The last government made it an issue of politics rather than the subject of governance to have it fixed by the Federal government, since its a federal road. The approach was not only acrimonious and provocative but deliberately misleading as though the process of reconstructing/dualising the road was not on course.
Now, kindly fast-forward to 2015 with a new government in place. The very same scenario still exists: there is an opposition government at both ends of the table representing the State and Federation faced with the very same type of challenge at the Eleme/ Onne axis of the East/West road, which was also the subject of acrimonious relations between Rivers State and the Federal Government. But this time what has changed is the approach from the Rivers State government. The Nyesom Wike led government has adopted a more pragmatic strategy at addressing the issue without making a mountain out of a molehill; and I would like to say it is commonsensical.
Think about it, rather than make it a subject of controversy and acrimonious bickering, the current government has engaged and collaborated with stakeholders and multinationals who do business in the area to solve the problem; and by so doing, engendering harmonious relations both with the Federal Government and the business community, which ultimately turns out to be in the best interest of Rivers State. Isn’t that common sense?
In the health care sector, the last government made commendable strides in providing primary health care for Rivers people by dotting the landscape with primary health care centers and doing its best to manage the system. The hiccups and shortcomings are ignorable and I would do just that in order to focus on the novelty of the initiative. It was good.
However, by ignoring the secondary health care management system and allowing the General Hospitals to run aground to complete disuse across the State, the last government did a great disservice to Rivers people.
Health management systems are complementary of each cadre and it was only commonsensical to know that the Secondary Health Care management system needed to be decentralised to avoid the pressure that comes with a centralised system. A decentralised system would be able to promptly address the secondary health care needs of Rivers people without exerting pressure on the itself.
The current government has taken steps to revamp the General Hospitals to address the challenges currently associated with the management of secondary health care in Rivers State. Again, a commonsensical and pragmatic approach to governance.
Yet again, another case in reference is the relationship with the security agencies, especially the police. The change of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police a few weeks after the inauguration of the Governor has not elicited any controversy as was with the posting of Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu to Rivers State.
How can Nigerians forget in a hurry, the hullabaloo and public opprobrium that was generated by the transfer of the now famous Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu to Rivers State as its Police Commissioner? While this is not absolve or indict Mr. Mbu of any unprofessional conduct, the dramatic charges at him by the Rivers State government left much to be desired of it. But today, the Rivers State Government has not only warmly received the new Commissioner of Police but is collaborating with him to combat criminality and even, quite impressively, manage traffic in the State. How else can one describe pragmatism in governance?
Governor Wike is proving before our very eyes, that the character of Nigeria’s political opposition is fundamentally flawed. From his antecedents and his style of governance, one can safely infer that his philosophy of playing opposition politics is etched on the principle that it must promote public service and positively affect the lives of his people. These may be wrong assumptions but these are the feelers one gets by looking into Rivers State under its new leadership.
Perhaps he has learned the lesson of the past that bad politics cannot lead to good governance, which is quite instructive. The character of Rivers politics during the last administration adversely affected the State. To turn things around and reposition the State, the character of the politics must change and it appears to be changing.
Since this is becoming a thesis, I just might have to conclude with this last scenario. The Iloabuchi/Eagle Island road was defunct for almost 8 years. It was initiated by Sir Celestine Omehia during his 5 month foray as Governor of Rivers State in 2007 and was never completed by the Amaechi government that lapsed in 2015. Governor Wike, whom I can at this point, safely refer to as the Pragmatician came with a 3 weeks marching order in his first week in office, and in 3 weeks, as ordered by the Governor, the road has not only been completed but has its kerbs painted and street lights installed. Anyone can verify these claims.
As at today, unpaid salaries inherited from the last administration has been cleared. Pensioners have been paid. Health care workers have called off their one year strike. The House of Assembly, hitherto shut for about a year, is now open and operational. An Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State and an Acting President of Customary Court of Appeal have been appointed in compliance with the recommendations of the National Judicial Council and the courts, shut for about a year, have been opened to litigants to promote the cause of justice. All these and more happened in less than 30 days in office of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Governance is not rocket science as Hon. Walson-Jack, the former National Scribe of the Nigerian Bar Association, would say. Often, all that is needed is simply COMMON SENSE. One can only encourage Governor Wike to maintain the momentum and keep his eyes on the ball. Rivers State is certainly having a new lease of life.
Oraye St. Franklyn, a strategic communicator and good governance advocate, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He tweets from @RealOraye. He is also on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
