By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Following the ongoing commissioning and flagging-off of another batch of projects by Governor Nyesom Wike, some youths of Rivers State have reminded him of his promise to empower the people of the state financially.
Speaking to TPCN on Friday in Port Harcourt,
on the sidelines of this year’s International Youth Day, the youths commended Governor Wike’s developmental strides but noted that the physical projects were not more important than their lives.
“The projects are very good, no doubt about that, because they’re making our state look more beautiful. Am talking of the roads, the flyovers, the buildings, the modern markets and all the projects. But our stomach is more important because we need to live. If we’re not alive, we cannot enjoy these projects that governor is commissioning. That’s why am pleading with him to remember the stomach infrastructure he promised us last year,” Esuku James, a student, said.
For Menebari Sunday, who said he’s a printer, the development projects executed by Governor Nyesom Wike would never be a complete achievement if the people are not empowered financially.
He said: “I have been saying it that Governor Wike has taken our state far in the area of the projects he’s doing.
After Lagos, it’s Rivers. So, the governor has tried. He is one of the best governors in Nigeria but he will be the best of all if he can empower us as he promised. He himself knows that it is necessary to empower the people with money. That is why he made that promise that last year. Am surprised that up till now, he has not done as he said. At least, he for empower we the youths small.”
Menebari Sunday, who said he hails from Khana Local Government Area, appealed to Governor Wike to fulfill the stomach infrastructure promise he made to Rivers people late last year.
“I was there when the governor made that promise – when he was commissioning the GRA flyover. He said now that he has fulfilled all his campaign promises, that it’s time to empower the people with money.
“So, am begging him to do as he promised; the suffering in this country is too much for us. Things are very expensive. We’re all hungry. We need that empowerment. He has done for Ogbunabali people. He gave them N2 billion on Tuesday when he was commissioning their road and Eastern By-Pass. Please let him spread it round. God bless him,” he stated.
The youths, by their appeals, seemed to corroborate the chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Chijioke Ihunwo, who, at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, called on Governor Wike to create jobs for Rivers youths. He also reminded Governor Wike of the 5,000 jobs he promised to create for Rivers people a few years ago.
“The youths are agitating and want to make passionate appeal to His Excellency, Chief. Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, to hear our demands and cry, that Rivers youths are aiming at the 5000 jobs he promised Rivers youths. We are appealing to him to consider to fulfill his promise before leaving office. We are also calling on the governor to also look on how to partner with other foreign investors to bring development that is going to employ our youths,” Ihunwo said.
