Wike orders closure of businesses ahead of Tinubu’s visit

Ahead of Bola Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has declared Wednesday, 3rd May 2023, a public holiday.

He said this is to enable Rivers people to give the President-Elect a “rousing welcome.”

Tinubu is scheduled to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the ultra-modern Magistrates’ Court Complex, Port Harcourt, during his 2-day visit on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday, 4th May 2023, respectively.

Wike, in a State broadcast on Tuesday, said during Tinubu’s presidential campaign visit to the state, he had disclosed his intention to have him commission some projects in the state after the general elections.

According to him, a formal invitation was sent to the President-Elect, which he graciously accepted.

Wike explained that the proposed visit to the State is Tinibu’s first official visit to any state since his emergence as winner of the 2023 presidential elections.

He maintained that by this visit, the President-Elect will join the long list of distinguished Nigerians the state has hosted to commission landmark projects.

“For us, it is an honour to the government and people of Rivers State to host the President-Elect on this historic visit. Consequently, I urge all Rivers citizens to come out en mass to receive our President-Elect, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and display the traditional Rivers hospitality as he commissions these legacy projects to God’s glory and the advancement of our development.

“Given this, I hereby declare Wednesday, 3rd May 2023, a public holiday to enable the people of Rivers State to receive our President-Elect rousingly.

“Furthermore, all shops and business premises along Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State shall remain closed from 8.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 3rd May 2023. I urge all labour unions and security agencies to comply with this closure order,” Wike stated.