Rivers aims to close economic gap with Lagos – Commissioner

Closing the economic gap between Lagos and Rivers states may be the secret target of the new administration in Rivers State; BD SUNDAY has been reliably told.

This closely-guarded mission objective and target of the new administration in Port Harcourt headed by the former minister of state for education and a Goodluck Jonathan’s henchman, Nyesom Wike, has been revealed in an exclusive interview with one of the strongest pillars of the push to hoist Wike to the seat of power, Emma Okah, who was also the chairman of the publicity team of the new governor’s campaign committee.

For years, Lagos remained poles ahead of other parts of Nigeria, but Rivers State has been sulking over the suspicion that most prosperity and economic advantages went to Lagos to the detriment of Rivers State. Now could be another opportunity to launch a fresh but discreet push to give Lagos State a chase in economic contest.

Lagos rules with a gross domestic product (GDP) of over $91billion, seen as the fifth biggest economy in Africa if it was to be a country, but Rivers State comes a distant second with $21billion, with a GDP bigger than those of many countries in Africa. The economic planners in Port Harcourt believe that with the gap in per capita income between the two challengers now closing up (Lagos $4,333 and Rivers $4,000), it is believed that the task is not impossible. Kano comes a far third with $12billion and per capita of $1,200.

The Wike administration is said not to lose sight of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), though not a state and not with disclosed economic indices, but with huge political clout to push Port Harcourt to a third state in national relevance.

This secret target may be behind the bustling activity in Port Harcourt since Wike climbed into the N4billion New Brick House built by Peter Odili’s administration as the new governor seems restless on the state’s economy.

Okah, now commissioner for Housing, one of the two earliest appointments by Wike, told BD SUNDAY: “The Wike administration is clearly focused on rebuilding Rivers State and revitalising failed infrastructure with a view to enthroning efficient services that can run and sustain viable economic stability indices for the state. We intend to, not just reposition the economy of Rivers State, but to place the state in a very strong pedestal in Nigeria to the envy of other states”.

Letting the secret out to show the mindset of the Wike team and the new agenda, Okah, a lawyer and newspaper columnist, revealed thus: “Hitherto, people used to talk about Lagos, Abuja and Rivers, and probably Kano. Over time, Rivers State lost its position. Today, we are trying to return to proper reckoning so that you can talk about Port Harcourt after Lagos; we mean this in all ramifications; economic indices, economic profiles, opportunities, infrastructure, efficient services, welfare, health, environment, education, power, security, name it. We want to come out strong and place our name in a manner that history will be very kind to us”.

On why there has emerged huge activity in roads leading to industrial nerve centres of the state, Okah said from day one, Governor Wike promised that government was not going to do so much into direct economic activities; that all he would do is create the enabling environment that would in turn promote and sustain economic activities especially from the private sector. “So what he is doing now is to provide relevant infrastructure, provide security, the relevant mutual relationship between the private sector and the government as a means of enthroning trust for them to invest in the state. This is with a clear message that Rivers State has become the new investment destination”.

Citing a few cases, the strongman of the Wike administration said: “If you look at the East West Road, especially the Eleme axis that suffered disrepair, you will see that today, the news is out that the road is good again. The governor showed leadership and called the companies to say, let us use what we have to get what we want. RCC now has confidence and is working hard on the road. Those using that road have been testifying that it is now motorable and that there is massive reduction in loss of man-hours”.

Another, he pointed out, is the Industry Road in the heart of the Garden City leading to the Port Harcourt Wharf. “What we saw when we got when we went to carry out groundbreaking ceremony made us shed tears for our state; that a government was here and had passed this road. We thank God that action has been taken and solution is here. There are quite a few other roads where action is being taken to alleviate the sufferings of our people on the way to work or back”.

The next project in the plan to recapture the economic momentum in Port Harcourt is the ‘Zero Pothole Project’ which he described as the most wonderful. He said most roads shut down just because of some failed spots left un-repaired. “You would ask yourself, how much are these things worth, not billions of course. Thank God the governor has come and has intervened. Now, we see smooth flow of traffic”.

The Wike administration is also fighting through the security angle. The governor donated 63 troopers to the security agencies including the police. Okah said this gives hope because anywhere one goes, they would see those vehicles and this reduces fear of insecurity. On how this is directly linked to what the new administration wants to achieve in the economic front, the commissioner said: “People now move freely without fear. Unless you tackle insecurity, no business can thrive here in Nigeria because money is involved and unless an investor feels secure he will not even think of investing. We thank God for the new vision. Given what he has done so far, the sky is our limit”.

Wike and his team think they are on the right track, hitting a key chord with the populace. Okah said: “Everywhere we go and even when you listen on radio, you hear people commending the governor. When we also talk of business, it must not necessarily be the multinationals or corporations. The taxi operator is a business man and if he cannot move from one point to the other, he cannot make daily returns. The ordinary market woman, plumber, trader, they all suffer bad administration. Now, all manner of businesses are picking up well. There is no one who will not be happy when things are done well, and this goes beyond APC or PDP (politics). The basic things Nigerians want are good governance and good leadership, and these are things Wike administration understood right from day one and he is doing all in his power to achieve this”.

Fighting to level up with the Lagos economy as well as fighting for political survival seems to be an uphill task for Wike but his henchman said: “No, clearly, it is a matter of vision. If you have a focus, it will drive you. Even those who have ordinary businesses that are not political, they also face their threats, yet the business moves on. Even in the domestic sector, they face challenges but it does not bring down the home. Yes, cases are in the tribunal, but the lawyers should do their job, the tribunals should face their job. We regard the cases as the challenges of democracy. For us here at home, we believe that we owe the people the duty to generate happiness for them, even if it means extended hours in the office and depriving ourselves of luxury to prove to the people that government can still be trusted. We believe that we continue to care for our people till 2019”.

Okah debunked insinuations that the uncertainty over the election tribunal was reason for failure to appoint all the commissioners but revealed that it could be due to empty treasury. According to him, it takes huge amounts to sustain top government appointees.

He said: “Do not also forget that when you appoint people, you have to provide for them; official vehicles, quarters, overhead, etc. This administration has lived largely on borrowed funds (N30Bn so far) because we met an empty treasury, and it is not good to borrow and spend on recurrent expenditure instead of capital projects. People must appreciate the fact that this is not a government of waste, the governor is being careful, away from luxury, even denying himself many things. He has not bought one single vehicle, but he has bought 63 vans for the police, but he is still using his private vehicle. This is an example he is setting and those of us under him follow his footsteps and the people will clearly see a difference. Nigerians know those who are working for them, and those who came to steal money. So, when we get the kind of commendations we get, we feel happy because people are happy to see those who talk and do it, who provide opportunity for them to make a living.

Besides, he made it clear that appointments to anybody into any office were at the discretion of the governor. “I do not believe that there is a dearth of competent hands to run the state but choosing people requires some degree of thought, evaluation, screening, carefulness, consultation, etc to ensure that you put the right people in right places to drive your programmes. In many other states, commissioners are yet to be appointed and even at the centre, ministers are yet to be named. Very soon, the commissioners will be appointed.”

Many felt the case at the tribunal was eroding the confidence of the people in the Wike administration as the opposition plays this up and calls him ‘caretaker governor’ who should begin to pack his bags ready to vacate. Okah, always ready to return the fire, said: “If you understand the APC well, you will know that they (especially in Rivers State), prefer talking before they think. We have watched them over time and we have understood their style. This was the same thing they were doing in the midst of the bravado when they lost theMarch 28 presidential election here. They threatened hell and fire that they were going to win the second election because Muhammadu Buhari had become president-elect. When the time came again, they lost even more woefully. So, if a man dances in a particular way each time the drum beats, then you can easily predict how he is going to dance the next time. So, we do not waste time replying them. We are certain that Governor Wike remains the governor of Rivers State till May 28, 2019. In any case, even if election is repeated 300 times from now on, between Wike and the APC, Governor Wike is going to win 300 times. We have facts to defend this position, and we have no apology to anybody. So, the tribunal does not belong to anybody and we trust they will do the right thing, and anyone who feels aggrieved should go to the next level of appeal and don’t please pull down the house, that is the rule of law, that is democracy”.

If Wike is so unperturbed about Amaechi and was not fighting a survival battle, why launch a full-scale war to bring him down and stop him from getting a federal appointment? “There is no war the governor has launched against Amaechi. In fact, the governor does not even have time to discuss Amaechi, except in relation to the way he has governed Rivers State. Nigerians must begin to ask questions about how their affairs were conducted by any government functionary. There is nothing wrong in being called upon to explain your actions in public office. If you are asked to give account, do it, or do not go into public office. Nigerians are no fools, if you steal their money and want to deceive them, they know; if you deployed their resources very well, they appreciate it. One thing with the Amaechi matter is that each time you demand for accountability, he concludes that Wike is after him. Wike is after him, for what? What is Wike contending with him for. The highest he can be is minister, and Wike has been minister before, so what is the big deal about that?

“Let him come and explain to the people. We are talking about how he sold the power plants, and breach of due process. If he used the money for a particular project, let him say so, if he did not breach any process, let him come and explain. If you did not pay the money to some strange accounts that have been traced to Bureau de Change, say so. Do not just say the state executive council approved the sale of power plant; that is not the issue. The issue is, what did you do with the money? If you built a road with the money, show us the road, the contractor, the cost, etc. What we hear is barrage of noise that Wike wants to run Amaechi down. Wike does not want to run Amaechi down. If anything, Rivers people want to see Amaechi given important federal appointment so that Amaechi’s investment in the making of the present Federal Government is not in vain. If you ask me, let Amaechi live and be appointed so that the investment does not waste”.

He said it was also wrong for a former governor to think the best he owed the state is to go about creating animosity between the state and the federal government, creating the impression that his governor hates the president. “The governor does not hate the federal government; otherwise he will not go about sponsoring federal projects such as roads, police, which are federal tasks. The governor is doing them and happily too. We will continue to support the Federal Government and continue to partner with the centre, in my view, in mutual respect, so we can get the best from the centre while we do our best at home. All we ask is that he should come and explain some things”.

Is it wrong for anybody to ask him how he spent $39million he paid out on account of Karibi White General Hospital, he asked. “Is it wrong to ask for explanations on why he brought down the UPTH temporary complex which had full infrastructure that had served the University for many years? He simply demolished it; that he was to build a world-class tertiary health institution and went ahead to pay out the people’s money, only to turn round to say he later did soil test that proved the place was not good for it. The question anybody would ask is; why did you not conduct soil first to know if it could carry the 1000-bed hospital tower? You first demolished the complex and created this medical lacuna. The people around that area would have still been making use of that hospital”.

Now charging everywhere, Okah asked: “Should Amaechi not explain the monorail project that he inflicted on the people and the attendant losses? You said you were building an auto-destruct syringe factory with some partners but these partners (Federal Government and the pan African health Foundation) pulled out. You did not feel doubt as to why these bigger groups pulled out, but went ahead to do it alone and wasted N37billion on it. To this day, there is no kobo in terms of returns to Rivers State. Is there anything that has not been explained to the people? These are simple questions anyone with clean hands would explain easily”.

Asked about the platform provided for Amaechi for official explanations, either a panel of inquiry, handover notes, or on the pages of newspapers, Okah said: “In whichever way he wants to do it. The governor gave opportunity during the handover, but he objected to that. He said he authorised his former deputy (Tele Ikuru, deputy governor) to do it despite that they had parted ways. The people own the trust he held for Rivers State. What he is telling us is that he is bigger than the people. Do not forget that he set up Truth and Reconciliation Committee (Eso panel) where a former governor was brought to face examination, heaven did not fall. This was alright by him that time but now, APC is losing sleep. You hold power on behalf of the people. There is something he is hiding, and that is the issue between the government and Amaechi”.

He went on: “Now, see the house he built for himself in Abuja. Under the retirement law, he was not supposed to build a house for himself for N1.2billion. Besides, he did not build for other governors before him as the law demanded but he started with himself. It is the succeeding government that supposed to build for him. When he was leaving, he took N800m that he wanted to furnish it. These are the things we want him to explain. How about your predecessors, have you given them what you owe them under the law?

 “Now, you said you wanted to spray insecticides in the air. You got your company and paid two million euro. At the end of the day, they sprayed only 10 out of 23 LGAs. Even if you had sprayed all the 23 LGAs, what about mosquitoes from Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, will they not flock back? These are the questions anybody who wants to spend public funds should have asked. To gauge the magnitude of loss we suffered, look at Akwa Ibom State, Lagos, etc, these are the parameters to measure Amaechi. Wike administration is only trying to lift the state from the abyss and quagmire that Amaechi pushed it to”.