Wike, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, has continued to engage communities that supported the political direction he set during the 2023 general elections.
The visits follow the wide-ranging campaigns he personally led across all local government areas of the state in late 2022 and early 2023. Those campaigns shaped the outcome of the elections, which produced a new executive governor of Rivers State, three senators, eleven members of the House of Representatives, and thirty-two members of the State House of Assembly. They also opened doors to several state and federal appointments, including the emergence of a minister and other federal officials, as well as the election of Nigeria’s president.
Supporters say the outcomes of those elections have brought visible gains to Rivers State. These include the creation of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, rapid progress on the Eleme section of the East-West Road, and the completion of the Bodo-Bonny corridor, which is seen as vital to economic growth in the area.
Political observers argue that Wike’s decision to return to the local government areas is deliberate and necessary. As the political leader of the state, he is seen as acknowledging the people who stood by his guidance and mobilized support at the grassroots. The visits are described as a show of gratitude to voters who trusted his political judgment and acted on it during the elections.
The move has also drawn attention to a wider issue in Nigerian politics. Analysts note that many officials who benefited from the 2023 elections and subsequent appointments have not returned to thank their constituents, despite plans to seek re-election or reappointment in the future. This, they argue, goes against basic expectations between leaders and the people who gave them their mandate.
Gideon Deemor, a political thinker and strategist, views Wike’s actions as a reminder that leadership carries a duty of appreciation. According to him, neglecting those who made sacrifices to secure electoral victories weakens trust and violates basic principles that guide social and political responsibility.
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