Emmanuel says he will move A’Ibom from fast-industrialising society to a rich one in the next four years Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pledged to initiate and implement a 25-year marshall plan for economic transformation and development to guide and accellerate the future development of the state.
Wike stated this after the state Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara, administered the oath of office on him and his deputy, Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt yesterday.
The governor, who had earlier been driven around the crowded stadium in a ceremonial open-roof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) to exchange pleasantries with the jubilant crowd, promised to continue to grow the state economy, expand her tax base, provide a friendly business environment and attract foreign and local investments to create more jobs and empower the people.
“We know we are developing, but it’s better and more result-oriented if approached in an organised and strategic form. We will therefore adopt a holistic approach to development by partnering with relevant national and international agencies and expertise to initiate and implement a 25-year marshall plan for economic transformation and development to guide and accellerate the future development of our state,” he said.
The governor said his administration would still prioritise provision of quality road network, bridges and prioritise the development of more social amenities, such as schools, health facilities, water and sanitation, electricity, land reclamation and preservation of natural resources.
“For too long, we have relied mostly on a single vanishing revenue source to fund our development. The reality is that we cannot continue in this economic folly lest we remain forever vulnerable to the ripples, uncertainties and miseries of the mono-product-based national economy. Apart from oil and gas, Rivers State also has a vast agricultural potential, which has remained largely untapped for decades,” he further said.
Also, his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has promised to make the state move from fast industrialising society to a great and rich society as his second term agenda.
He made this vow yesterday after taking the oath of office administered on him by the state Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Abraham, at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
According to him, the state in the next four years, would witness an unprecedented growth in all sectors of the state’s economy, stressing that it was only God that would make such possible.
“I stand here again today, as I did in 2015, to promise you that since the God we worship and adore did not fail us, I will not fail you. I will continue to serve you as your servant-leader in absolute humility and devotion to your needs and desires and will appropriate your resources to improve your living condition and secure the future for our children so that they too can be as productive and fulfilled in their aspirations as their counterparts elsewhere.
“To these aspirations and vision of re-dedicating ourselves to the course of upliftment of the Akwa Ibom people, we hereby jointly reiterate that Akwa Ibom in my second term will move from a fast-industrialising society to a great and rich society, as well as witness an unprecedented growth in all spheres of development and capacity enhancement,” he said.
Besides, he promised to continue working with security agencies in the state so as to maintain and sustain the peaceful nature of the state, noting that such would continue to attract investors to the state.
