Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday commended his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike for inviting him to commission a project despite the fact that they are members of different political parties.
Mr Sanwo-Olu said it was a strong message that politics can be played without bitterness.
He charged politicians, political leaders and public office holders across political and ideological divides to come together for the good of the people.
Sanwo-Olu gave the advice while commissioning the Orochiri-Worukwo (waterlines) Flyover, Port Harcourt, built by the Wike administration in Rivers State.
“Governor Nyesom Wike and I belong to different political persuasions, but this invitation today sends a very strong message, that we, as politicians and political leaders, can come together across political and ideological divides, for the good of our people,” he said.
“Infrastructure projects do not discriminate; they belong to everyone, regardless of your politics. They make life easier for all, regardless of who you voted for in the past or plan to vote for in the future.
“There is also a strong message being made today about expanding our capacity to play politics without bitterness. This symbolic gesture by my friend and brother is one that should become standard practice across Nigeria. There is also a lot that we can learn from one another, and experience that we can translate from one part of the country to the other.
“Because Lagos and Rivers share a number of similar contexts, it is imperative that we put a lot more work into creating institutional mechanisms for comparing notes and learning from each other, with regards to solving the challenges of urban planning, transportation, climate change, security, revenue generation, business climate and others.
“Ultimately, we are all in governance to touch the lives of the people for good; to deliver to them the dividends of democracy. There is no doubt that Governor Wike has spent his last seven years focused on this; just as we have similarly been doing in Lagos.”
While commending Wike for his strong commitment to the delivery of physical infrastructure in Rivers State, Sanwo-Olu said: “This Orochiri-Worukwo (Waterlines) Flyover is just one of several impactful projects that the Rivers State Government has delivered over the last seven years, under the watch of His Excellency. I am told that there are around a dozen major flyover projects in all, completed and ongoing, and I am also aware that there are still many other projects across various sectors, which will be duly commissioned within the life of this administration.
“The new Flyover being commissioned today, as you can all see, is a design and implementation masterpiece, at almost a kilometre long, and a total of eight (8) lanes, supported by a robust flood-control system and underground drainage. Governor Wike is very much a “Talk and Do” Governor.”
