Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared Wednesday, May 3, a public holiday.
The holiday is to allow people in the state to welcome President-elect Bola Tinubu, who will be in the state for two days to commission projects.
Tinubu is scheduled to visit the state on Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4.
When Tinubu campaigned for votes in the state before the last election, the governor promised to invite him to commission projects.
In a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday, May 2, he stated that after the general elections, a formal invitation was sent to the President-elect, which he agreed to honor.
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On the first day of the visit, the governor ordered all shops and business premises along Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State to close from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
He urged all labor unions and security forces to obey the order.
He also urged everyone in the state to come out in force to welcome the visitor.
According to reports, the holiday falls a day after the Federal Government’s May 1 Workers’ Day holiday.
Later in the month, there are two similar holidays: Children’s Day on May 27 and President’s Inauguration Day on May 29.
Rivers is said to be the first state Tinubu will visit after being declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 1.
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During his visit, he will dedicate the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the ultra-modern Magistrates’ Court Complex in Port Harcourt.
Wike had invited political heavyweights to commission projects, including President Muhammadu Buhari (who was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami), the Labour Party presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Buhari presented Wike, who leaves office on May 29, with a national award for infrastructure development in Rivers State in October 2022.
