Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good leadership, has admonished the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, to adopt a more subtle stance in his quest for support from Multi nationals and the Federal Government.

In an open letter made available to Africa Update, the Director of Communications, Dr. Rex Akrokokiya West, said Wike’s decision to be at loggerhead with the Federal Government over enforcement of an Executive order that violates the provisions of the constitution is unhealthy for the state.

Excerpts of the open letter:

AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, GOV. EZENWO NYESOM WIKE, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
PORT HARCOURT.

SIR.

*HOW TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF RIVERS STATE AND HER PEOPLE: NOT BY DECLARING WAR WITH OTHERS*.

Chapter II of Section 14 Subsection 2b of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended provides that *”the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”*. For any government to succeed, the primary duty which the persons holding the seat of power swore on oat, is to protect the lives of and property of its people which is the hallmark of good governance.

The cardinal standard route to ensuring the protection of lives and property is through good governance. It is not enough to sing protection of interest of Rivers people without taking steps to actualise it. Apart from building infrastructures, good governance involves cooperation with other federating groups/organs in the country. When a leader postures independence or Island, he/she cannot effectively achieve the objective of protecting the interest of his people no matter how LOUD he SINGS it. A little of cooperation and callaboration is required.

DR. ODILI REGIME AS THE THEN GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE.

When Dr.Peter Odili was Governor of Rivers State I was in the United States of America, but the little I know was that even though he was not the original choice of former President Obasanjo, he swallowed his bride and warmed himself to the heart of the then President such that he became the rallying point for other Governors who needed Federal Government attention. We understand Dr.Odili also attracted a lot from the Federal Government one example being the Eleme and trans Amadi gas turbines to mention but a few.

RT. HON. AMAECHI REGIME AS GOVERNOR OF RIVERS.

The emergenceof Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the then governor of Rivers State through the court after the K.leg saga, still didn’t make him confront federal government. It got to the extent that even the political party that produced Amaechi as the then governor, expelled him from the party. Yet he was never confrontational to the federal government because he wanted the best for his people. But at the end, the matter was resolved amicably and Rivers People benefited much more than expected. There is no community in Rivers State, that you will not see a project sited by Amaechi’s administration. That is what they call having your people at heart and not the other way round.

This is the way to demonstrate that a leader loves his people and not to sing it and at the same time antagonizing and confronting the federal authority. No one will promote a person or government that do not only posture enemity but pronounces and act on it.
Any Leader who acts in this manner, cannot claim to love his people or have their interest protected, rather he is playing Politics with their lives and livelihood and therefore a suspect.

It is no longer news, that Your daily statewide broadcast on Covid19 is all about threatening federal government and cooperate organisations on how to extort money compulsorily from them without recourse to the fact that they are not under any obligations to so do as he is threatening.

It is obvious, that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended did not make any provision for “Executive Order”,  but in course of exercising executive powers, the constitution was explicit in section 5 subsection 3a, b and c. The Subsections states as follows:

The Executive Powers vested in a state under subsection 2 of this section shall be so exercise as not to:

a. Impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive powers of the federation;

b. Endanger any asset or investment of the Government of the Federation in that state; or

c. Endanger the continuance of a federal government in Nigeria.

With the above sections of the constitution, it is obvious, that the federal government have overriding powers above any state in Nigeria including Rivers State and it is unnecessary for you to confront federal government headlong instead of making amend by calling on the attention of the Federal government to assist the State in this time the people of the State are suffering from a pandemic only God knows how to cure.

Your Excellency Sir, what would have been wrong, if you call the attention of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  and intimate him on your efforts so far and the ask for assistance like your brother (Amaechi) did during the time of Ebola.

Abusing fellow governors who get relief materials from donors and friends of the States, no matter how small it is to support the government in emergency situations, does not make you a better governor but it will even scare those who would want to help state.

Always have a rethink and a second thought on your approach to issues and also listen to those you called your advisers. It will always guide you towards happiness and understanding on issues at hand.

This may be a hard advice, but pls try to adhere because of the interest of Rivers people which you are their governor.

 

Dr. Rex Akrokokiya West

Director of Communications,

Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership.

19/04/2020.