In preparation of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has declared Wednesday, 3rd of May a public holiday to enable residents give him a rousing welcome.
It was gathered that the Governor in a state broadcast on Tuesday made announcement that Tinubu would inaugurate Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the ultra-modern Magistrates’ Court Complex, Port Harcourt during his two days official visit to the state on Wednesday and Thursday.
Wike, during the broadcast, explained that the proposed visit to Rivers would be the president-elect’s first official visit to any state since he was elected.
He said: “For us, it is an honour to the people of Rivers State and the government to host the President-Elect on this historic visit. Consequently, I urge all Rivers citizens to come out en masse to receive His Excellency Senator Bola Tinubu and display the traditional Rivers hospitality as he commissions these legacy projects to God’s glory and the advancement of the state development.
“Given this, I hereby declare Wednesday, 3rd of May 2023, a public holiday to enable the people of Rivers State to receive our President-Elect rousingly.”
Wike also ordered all shops and business premises along Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State to remain closed on Wednesday from 8.00 am to 3.00 pm and urged all labour unions and security agencies to comply with the closure order.
The Informant247 had reported that Nyesom Wike, the Rivers Governor last week Wednesday confirmed the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is scheduled to inaugurate the iconic Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover and Magistrate Court building in Port Harcourt on May 3 and 4.
The 1007.5 metres Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover, which connects Rumuola road to Ikwerre road, was 12th flyover built by Wike’s administration since 2019.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike said that Tinubu would pay a two-day official visit to Rivers State to inaugurate the projects.
The Governor, who spoke during an inspected visit to the ongoing Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover and Magistrates Court building in Port Harcourt, confident that the former governor of Lagos State would be commissioning the project.
He said: “To God be the glory. We are expecting the President-elect on the 3rd and 4th of next month to commission the 12th flyover and the Magistrates Court building.
“You can see the Magistrate Court building and how amazing it is. We commend the contractor too who has done this job, and quite on time. I don’t think you can find this anywhere in this part of the country.”
Wike explained that the President-elect was told when he came to campaign in Rivers State and paid a courtesy call in Government House Port Harcourt in February 2023 that he would be invited to inaugurate some of the landmark projects of his administration.
He said: “We had invited presidential candidates of other parties like Labour, NNPP (New Nigeria Peoples Party), they all came and inaugurated projects and we did say to him (President-elect) that we believe that after the election we are going to invite him to inaugurate projects too. And luckily, these two very important projects are ready.”
The Rivers governor said it was gratifying that his administration was able to commence and finish the construction of 12 flyovers within the last four years, adding that Rivers people will attest to the fact that his administration has conscientiously delivered on the promises made to them.
