Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has inaugurated a committee to plan the inauguration of Sir Siminialayi Fubara and Prof. Ngozi Odu as the next governor and deputy governor of Rivers State.
Urging the committee members to discharge their duties without looking at how much they make from it, Wike said the committee’s work was service to the State.
Governor Wike gave the charge while inaugurating the members of the committee on Saturday at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor charged the committee members to make the State proud with the plan and execution of the inauguration activities.
According to him, the committee would plan activities that include identifying projects to be flagged off or inaugurated, public lectures, dinner, and an inauguration ceremony on May 29, 2023.
Governor Wike explained that since the inauguration is a Rivers State affair, members are drawn from several political parties, civil societies, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and representatives of other groups.
“This is not a party affair. It is a Rivers State affairs. So, the committee is made up of all shades of opinion. In fact, our State has the largest number of such committees bearing in mind how our State is.
Governor Wike reiterated the need for people to use opportunities they may have to serve very well without necessarily seeing it as an opportunity to make money.
He stated that some members of the committee may be designated to work at the subcommittee levels to achieve better coordination of the outlined activities.
According to him, how well they performed in relation to achieving a hitch-free inauguration will count in their favour.
“I have found out something, and I have always told people that when you have the opportunity to serve, it is not an opportunity that money must come out at every given time.”
Governor Wike used the occasion to announce the dissolution of the Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because the elections are over.
He thanked the Director General of the campaign council, Felix Obuah, and his team members for their collective efforts that gave the party a 98% electoral victory in the 2023 general election.
Governor Wike also said the State would be the first to host the Nigerian President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on a two-day working visit.
He announced the involvement of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State in the special committee mandated for the planned visit of the president-elect.
Chairman of the 29th May 2023 inauguration committee, and Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, stated that their selection into the inauguration committee is indeed a clarion call to serve and justify the trust reposed in them.
He assured that they would stand to work with the incoming administration as one united political family.
“Your Excellency, we are indeed grateful that you have reposed this trust in us, and I will want to, on behalf of all of us, assure you that we will not fail you.
” As soon as we finish here, we will hit the ground running to ensure that we host the superlative inauguration ceremony that will be a fitting icing on the cake of 8 years of excellence performance in Rivers State.”
