Governor Wike Inaugurates 100,000 Special Assistants On Political Matters In Rivers

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has inaugurated the first batch of 100,000 Special Assistants on Political Unit affairs in the state.

Nyesom Wike Makes Political Appointment For 2023 Election

Those inaugurated by the governor at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State on Thursday were from the Rivers West and Rivers South-East senatorial district of the State.

Wike, who spelt out their duties to them, also congratulated them on their appointments to serve as his aides saying it was a privilege to have such an opportunity in one of the most prestigious states in the federation.

The governor told them to work among their people, hear from them of what views they hold about his administration, adding that they are also to understand the feelings of the people in their political units concerning programmes and policies of his administration.

According to the governor, as Special Assistants, they are to collate those impressions and pass them on as feedback through the 319 Ward and 32 Constituency Liaison Officers recently appointed, who will eventually transmit same to his office.

“Now your own is the most important because it is you that hear directly from the people. It is you that know the feelings of the people about us. It is you that will come and tell us, look, this is what my people are saying,” he said.

Governor Wike emphasised that they are the ones who will determine the decision and direction that the State and the party will take politically in the days ahead.

“This is a political period, hear from the people. What are they saying. So, you’ll be able to advise the governor, so I will know what decision to take. It is you who will determine what decision the people of Rivers State will take at the end of the day,” he added.

The governor also received the new Commissioner of Police, Rivers Command, CP Okon Effiong, with a charge that he and other heads of security and their personnel steer clear of partisan politics in the state.

Wike noted that if Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refuses to be influenced, the police stay away from interfering in the electoral process and the judiciary insist the rules are complied with, votes of the peoples will count.

“You have a role to make sure the people’s vote count, that the right person emerges. And when the right person emerges, you’ll see passion, and commitment in their work. The difference will be clear”, he told CP Effiong.

“For me, there cannot be any good governance without protection of life and property. Nobody can talk about good governance when there is insecurity everywhere. If you cannot protect your citizens, you have no need to talk about governance.

“Because if you’re doing roads, people must be alive to use the road. If you’re building good school, people must be alive to go to school. So, it is key that you owe your citizens protection of their lives and property. And so, for us as a government, that is the sole aim of being in government.”

This comes a few weeks after Governor Nyesom Wike increased the number of recently-appointed special assistants on political units from 28,000 to 50,000.