“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Your Excellency Sir, Gov. Nyesom Wike, I am writing this letter to you with every sense of humility infused with avalanche of respect for you and by extension, high esteem for your exalted position as the number one citizen of Rivers State.
My open letter to you at this point in time is informed by the recent development relating to the adversity of the Rivers state’s students who are on the international scholarship schemes initiated by your predecessor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
Although some of the affected students were recalled back to Nigeria to continue their studies in either Rivers state University or University of Port Harcourt, but it was shocking and disturbing to realize that your Government, some days ago, made a decision to be responsible to only final year students just as I have been able to authoritatively gather that schools abroad are on the verge of being contacted by the Rivers State Scholarship Board on this new development.
If your government should effect this decision, it would mean that students who are presently doing their industrial attachments would have their hope of bagging an international degree dashed.
According to multiple reports, the scheme under the Rotimi Ameachi led Government was used as a conduit pipe and full of corrupt activities. Notwithstanding sir, it is pertinent to appeal to you as the Rivers State Governor to kindly take a holistic approach in order to ensure that those enrolled on the scheme complete their degrees in various international communities.
As a Nigerian, I particularly understand the present economic challenges of the country that resulted from the drastic fall in oil price and subsequently, the state’s revenue. Nonetheless, Sir, I believe you could proffer solutions that would enhance the future of these young generations.
The Public Private Partnership could be adopted as a panacea of this malady so that at the completion of their education, these bright minds could return to work for the companies and firms involved.
A communal based approach too would not be a bad idea sir. This can be done by organising a fund raising dinner to solicit for the funds required to finance this noble cause or you can make a direct debit arrangements with the schools involved.
Above all sir, I will urge your Excellency to probe the Scholarship board with the aim of recovering the looted funds in order to mobilize it accordingly and re-inject same for the purpose of re-strengthening the scheme that now desperately needs the funds.
Through this open letter, I wish to seek the moral blessings and support of the good people of Rivers State, at home and overseas, royal fathers, godmothers, spiritual leaders such as Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye and Bishop David Oyedepo to join me in appealing to Barrister Nyesom Wike to adopt a workable political approach to solve this matter.
Moreover, I wish to let you understand sir that, in the interim, those recalled home are neither here nor there as they have not even been enrolled to any school. Furthermore, it is imperative to state that the two schools available in the state are over-congested and in most cases, do not offer programmes these students are presently undergoing abroad.
Lastly, I wish to congratulate you again sir on your well deserved victory both at the poll and in court. Many thanks to the supreme court for averting bloodshed in Rivers State. Long Live Governor Wike,
Long Live Rivers State, Long Live Nigeria.