By Tayo Joseph Lagos
For the second year running, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was honoured as the Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year.
He emerged as the Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year 2017 on Saturday at an award ceremony held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Presenting the Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year award to Governor Wike, Publisher of Sun Newspaper and Former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said the Rivers State Governor deserves the award in view of his performance.
He said that Governor Wike made history by becoming the first governor to win the award back to back. He urged the Rivers State Governor to maintain the tempo of development in the state.
He said that the Sun Newspaper is a platform that represents all interest groups in Nigeria, noting that it basically works for the growth and development of the country.
Receiving the award, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike assured that his administration will continue to deliver quality projects and programmes for the benefit of the Rivers people.
He stated that he is determined to always make Rivers people happy by sustaining his performance.
The governor said: “We will continue to deliver quality projects and programmes for the good people of Rivers State . We will not lower our performance.
“All local government areas of Rivers State have been touched by the administration. It is either a school or hospital or road. Every Local Government Area has one project or the other”.
He said the only way that the state will continue to defeat the Federal Government and the security agencies is the sustenance of the delivery of projects.
The governor added that the only state that can never be defeated is Rivers State. He said that the APC Federal Government only agenda is to rig, pointing out that they will be resisted.
He said that Rivers State is developing very fast because all the people are working in unity.
After the award ceremony, a reception was held by Rivers people in honour of the Rivers State Governor.
Speaking at the reception, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio said that Governor Wike will be re-elected on the basis of his outstanding performance and not on the basis of party consideration.
He said Former Governor Odili took Rivers State to Nigeria, while Governor Wike has taken the state to the world.
He said: “We came here to celebrate a son of the Niger Delta and a humanist who believes in development”.
National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus described the Rivers State Governor as a genuine development expert who has touched all areas in Rivers State.
He said one of the miracles of the Wike administration is the fact that road has reached Opobo and communities .
Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Mr Zakari Mohammed said Governor Wike is a shinning star that delivers on critical areas that improve the living condition of the people.
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Chibodum Nwuche said the award to the Rivers State Governor is for the entire people of the state.
He said that in all the decisions that leaders take, they must always factor in the interest of the people.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Ikuinyi Ibani and the Head of Service of Rivers State, Rufus Godwins praised the governor for providing the right leadership that has improved the fortunes of the state.
