No more upland/ riverine dichotomy in Rivers – Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said one of the greatest achievements of his administration is the elimination of the upland/ riverine dichotomy which he said plagued the state in the past.

The governor who spoke in an interview with the organisers of Zik Leadership Prize Award, said his administration had been able to promote unity for the overall development of the state.

He said, “First of all, you remember that the founding fathers maintained that Rivers State should be seen as a land of opportunity where people will achieve their potentials. In this state before, all you see, all you hear is tribalism; that you are from the upland, you are from the riverine and so people were not doing things as if we are one Rivers.

“So, we believe that one way we must achieve, if we see ourselves as one and once that is done, then we have moved to the next step. So today, our concern is that issue of upland/riverine is no longer necessary. We see ourselves as one Rivers State and it is necessary because of the projects and programmes we are carrying out in all the local government areas. So, the issue of upland/riverine differences is relegated to the background.”

The governor was among nine prominent Nigerians who won the 2017 Zik Prize awards. He emerged the winner of the Zik Prize in Good Governance.