Wike: Creation of Rivers State marked our liberation from forces of operation, domination
*unveils Golden Jubilee Logo
The Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has stated that the creation of the state marked the liberation of Rivers people from the forces of oppression and domination. He said that the Golden Jubilee Celebration had a special and historic significance to the existence of Rivers people and their journey to greatness.
The governor made the remarks at the Dr. Obi Wali Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, capital city of the state, on Monday, during the unveiling of the state’s Golden Jubilee Logo to herald the celebrations that would culminate on May 25, this year, when the state would clock 50 years of existence.
The governor who was accompanied by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, the deputy governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and other dignitaries of the state, declared that before the creation of the state “our people, including our brothers from Bayelsa State, existed as second class citizens in their own country: oppressed, exploited, dehumanized, and denied even the most basic opportunities of life.”
He continued: “Every Rivers person was, therefore, relieved when General Yakubu Gowon on 27th May 1967, dismantled the regional geo-political fortresses of majority domination and pronounced the creation of Rivers State, which unchained and restored our rights to preside over our own affairs and pursue our development aspirations within a united Nigeria.”
According to the governor, Rivers State has made significant progress over the last 50 years, pointing out that the Golden Jubilee Celebration inspired a new direction to build a prosperous state that all Rivers people could be proud of.
Governor Wike stated: “It is in this spirit that we have initiated the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of our creation and existence as a state to express our joy and thank God for boundless blessings upon as a people. We want our people to use this occasion of our Golden Jubilee to unite and together reflect on the tortuous and eventful journey and project into the future with hope and determination.”
The governor promised that the State Government would execute a number of landmark projects throughout 2017 to mark the Golden Jubilee, advance the promise of economic independence, and improve access to peace, unity, and prosperity for the people of the state.
The governor, now tagged The Golden Jubilee Governor, added that although the State Government was leading the celebrations, the milestone belonged to all Rivers people.
He called on the corporate community and individuals to partner with the Golden Jubilee Committee to make the celebration a success.
In his welcome address, the Alternate Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee, Chief Onueze Okocha, said that the Rivers people would celebrate in a very big way as one of the 12 states created in 1967, by decree no. 14 of May 27, 1967 under the hand of General Yakubu Gowon and one of the two states still standing.
In a press conference after the ceremony, the Chairman of the committee, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, informed that the state was created as a separate political and administrative unit within the Federal Government after a long and furious debate, adding that reasoned dialogue was therefore, an essential part of the social life of Rivers people.
Unfolding some of the plans for the celebration, Chief Alabraba said that public lectures and dialogues on the past, present, and future direction of the state would be one of the highlights of the celebration.
The Chairman said that as part of the celebration, the state government would commission and lay the foundation stones for key developmental projects in many parts of the state, adding that the exercise would be consistent with the state government’s commitment to deliver service to the people of the state.
Chief Alabraba said that the people of the state were eager to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Anniversary. He said that January was appropriate to commence the sensitization for the celebrations that would hold in May, 2017.
