IT had been a hectic day for him but Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike showed no signs of fatigue as he walked briskly into the room with all the journalists standing up in deference to him.
He made a beeline for Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, greeted him warmly and shook hands around with some of the journalists.
“Please sit,” the governor, who had hosted the week-long 31st National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) with the theme, Nigeria: Our Festivals, Our Heritage requested as the journalists said their thanks and obliged.
It had been an enjoyable week filled with several exciting activities as the Governor, who had promised the best NAFEST, delivered on his promises. He had put the icing on the cake for the participating 25 states earlier that evening at the colourful closing ceremony at the Sharks Stadium by announcing a donation of five million naira each to each contingent.
The interaction with the journalists was happening after the thrills at the stadium and was a post-mortem of sorts by the group that had been impressed by the overall organisation of the festival.
Having hosted the event with no untoward incident happening contrary to reports of insecurity that always come from his state, one of the journalists wanted to know the governor’s plans to transform the abundant resources of Rivers into a thriving tourism economy.
His response showed that Wike is desirous of promoting culture and tourism and was not just mouthing off with his speech at the festival’s opening and closing to develop the sectors. “Rivers State is endowed, and I have told the commissioner of tourism that annually, we must have cultural activities to showcase the cultural and tourism potential of the state,” he began by way of explanation.
“You went to Jim Rex Lawson Cultural Centre, mention one state that has such a facility. If you had gone to Pleasure Park, you would have known what is available in this state, which was done by this administration. To me, culture and tourism are key. Everything must not be politics because politics has failed us regarding unification as a country. The only unifying factors today are sports and culture. If I have my way, I will continue to host this festival. Anything that I have to do to promote my state, I’ll do it. I will continue to do what is necessary to promote culture and tourism in Rivers State,” he said.
Asked his plans to turn Port Harcourt into the Dubai of Nigeria, Wike admitted that the task would be an arduous one for him without the support of the Federal Government. He explained that “no tourist will come here without the Federal Government’s approval by giving visa. Today, we have lost so many investors because the Federal Government believes that River State is in opposition to it and that is not supposed to be because whether you like it or not if investors come in to develop tourism, the Federal Government will get revenue from it.
“I have the mind that tourism should grow but I also have a limitation, a restriction that is dependent on the government in power at the centre. If you have a government that is hostile to the state government how can you achieve it? So, having the mind or having the idea is different from you actualising it because of the hostile nature of the government at the federal level. I am surprised that this event [NAFEST] was held here because I never believed that the Federal Government would allow it to take place.
“That is why I thank Otunba [Runsewe] so much for the effort he put in making it happen. This state government signed a Memoranda of Understanding with the NFF to host matches here, but people said why is it that it is Rivers State that is hosting international matches. They took it away even when we had paid. We are concerned with Nigeria’s progress, but unfortunately, politics has taken centre stage in everything that we are doing,” he added.
On what he would do to change the narrative that Port Harcourt is safe contrary to reports of insecurity there, Wike said it wasn’t for him to do but for visitors to the city to share their experiences with others when they return home.
He said: “You have stayed here for one week and have seen things for yourself. You should go and tell the world that it [reports of insecurity] is not correct; that all these negative stories are untrue. What you used to hear, is it the truth? You have become the ambassador of fact, go and tell people that it is not correct. There is no new narrative that we can give; you have seen for yourself that it is not correct. So, you go back and provide the accurate story.
“The People Democratic People (PDP) had its national convention here, with over 7, 000 delegates and there was no incident. I have hosted international events, and no untoward incident has ever happened. I hosted the President some days ago when he came to inaugurate the terminal of Port Harcourt International Airport. I told Mr President that if Port Harcourt was not safe, the company could not have completed the job started by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Why do we play politics with everything? Why do we have to de-market our country and our state? The new narrative is for you to go back home and say that NAFEST has shown us that stories of insecurity are not correct. They are all political games but must we play politics with everything? Should we continue to bring Nigeria down because of politics?”
The governor also condemned the initial removal of history from the educational curriculum, wondering why it happened in the first place.
“How can we have a curriculum without integrating our culture? How does any society grow without history? How can I have a child who doesn’t know the culture of his people? Culture is part of development, it is part of growth, but we allow our children to imbibe foreign cultures. Our culture should be included in the educational curriculum because if we don’t do that, we have killed the culture of this country. It is key that our children should know what the culture of the various people of Nigeria is,” he said.
Though he has a stern visage, the governor showed the team his soft side. Noticing that no one had touched the soda and wine in the trays brought in to serve them, he feigned mock anger that they turned down his hospitality.
“You people have turned down my hospitality. They say when a man comes to your house, and he refuses your drink, he probably does not like you. You have not touched the drinks. Give me a glass, let me take out of this bottle to show you,” he said as he poured a tot and downed it.
That broke the ice. The reporters happily took the drinks and shook hands with the Governor as he left the room to attend to other matters of state.
and then