The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has asserted that the recent recognition of Rivers State by the Nigeria Police as one of the safest States in Nigeria was a testimony to the huge investment by his administration in the security of lives and property.
The governor stressed that in spite of the smear campaign being coordinated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the State, Dakuku Peterside, and his collaborators against his governorship bid in 2015, he has improved the security situation, critical infrastructure and economic fortunes of the State in many ways.
Governor Wike made the assertion during the 60th birthday celebration of founder of Royal House of Grace Church, Zilly Aggrey, in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The Governor who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Emeka Woke, pointed out that irrespective of the opposition’s intentional efforts to undermine his reputation and credibility in 2015, he has consciously focused on delivery of quality governance in Rivers State.
Governor Wike praised Aggrey and the Christian community in Rivers State for supporting his political aspiration and ignoring the smear political campaign by the opposition that he was a member of a secret society.
‘We are glad the Christians stood up. We are glad the Christians in this place did not go to sleep, that is why I thought it necessary to recall this incident because the hour had come again. And we are also proud to say, as an administration, we have not failed the Christian community.
‘As government, we built a worship place for the Christian community for the first time in the history of Rivers State, the wonderful edifice called the Christian Ecumenical Centre, where Christians gather and call the name of God.
‘We have also with the fear of God Almighty not taken your support and prayer for granted, as we have delivered on critical infrastructure. Today, anybody who has lived in this city (Port Harcourt) in the last five years will agree with me that even our opponents agree we have done well in terms of infrastructure.
‘We have also improve the security situation in this state. And I tell you, the crime index for this state has dropped drastically and last year, the Nigeria Police Force recognised Rivers State as one of the safest states. And so, what is the implication of that? It means the economic activities of the state had improved and then, the economic indexes of the state have also improved.’
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the governor urged the church to be wary of those who profess to be Christians but engage in political smear campaign with the intent to deceive them and the public.
Governor Wike noted that Aggrey had began his Christian life as an ordinary covert to the faith. But like the mustard seed has progressed to become a great man of God amply endowed with uncommon prophetic vision and power.
In the same vein, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has urged Christians to participate in politics. According to him, it was by the divine benevolence of God that he became the governor of his State.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK