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GOVERNOR WIKE – A SOUL LEADER AND PANACEA FOR INNOVATION. Part 1
Those who espouse the economic concepts of Paul Samuelson, the 20th century economist who propounded the most robust definition of economics which binds resources to the mode of distribution would agree that His Excellency, Barrister Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has imbibed a system of governance which is in tandem with it. Samuelson’s concepts emphasise on how people and society choose, with or without the use of money, to employ scarce productive resources which could have alternative uses, to produce various commodities over time and distribute them for consumption now and in the future among various persons and groups of society.
Thus choice and time are key factors underlying this concept. However, it is easy to overlook the normative inclusion of “with or without money”.
Nevertheless, this phrase singularly tames the overrated view that the saving or spending of money is king for the well-being of societies. In fact, it is exactly as much, as not! This is because socio-economic and psychological factors play as important roles as the allocation of scarce resources to the whos and hows, and could be crucial for its availability in the first place!
These factors are more long term in preserving the wealth of societies as well as the exponential turnover, far more reaching than the constrained ambits of actual resources which are ever so scarce and so easily exhausted.
To drive home the point, some parallels will be drawn from the City of London, who despite the 7/7, retained its thriving economy.
London is the world’s most international and connected financial centre, providing unrivalled access to global markets. It is a magnet for workers from around the world, who make up a diverse pool of financial and professional services specialists, rooted in human linkages to virtually every economy globally.
1] “The city became a hub for the multitrillion-dollar global derivatives market in the ’90s.” 2]In a research that took 91 different metrics into account, London was well clear and ahead of New York, Singapore, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
The principal reasons attributed to this feat, is London’s ability to innovate. The globally connected market, skilled talent, and government regulatory support, make London and the UK the only global financial centre that offers a ‘full-package’ innovative ecosystem.”
TheCityUk which is the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services, within the UK, and across the globe, asserts that
3]the UK’s competitiveness in the financial markets is due to, and reliant on the professional services ecosystem.
Now, in 7/7/2005, London was bombed. The terrorist action was carried out by coordinated attacks around the city. 56 lives were lost in a fell swoop.
The reasons for the attacks were religious. The intent was far reaching and wide. To break the spirit of Londoners by injecting fear and insecurity. This in turn would cause a breakdown in the spirit of community with the inevitable consequence of wrecking the economy.
No direct damage on the financial systems itself could cause as much harm as breaking the soul and bodies of the men and women from all over the world that make these systems work.
However, Londoners saw through the dark designs and resisted it. Londoners overcame, using the trains, buses and underground tubes. Many work across the city, and proudly, chose to defy fear by returning to the use of the underground the very next morning.
These aspects have been drawn in to buttress a few things. This era is well into the 21st century. This is the third decade. Societies therefore, no matter where they exist, even those in the third world can no longer afford the luxury of thinking small, within the box or rely on subsistence! In Nigeria, these have not worked in the past and will NEVER work to maximise our productive capacity or birth our dream of modern, secure, thriving societies. We need more advanced projections and synthesised systems that are built to weather-proof.
Like London, we should look to building prosperity systems that have only minimal dependence on government, such as regulatory roles.
The poor and hungry will always be with us, but they will starve more if unlike Londoners we do not build a resilient spirit against fear and those who are lurching in the shadows to capitalise on that and control our very existence.
The general opinion is that Governor Wike of Rivers State is one of the few and far in between leaders whose path of governance is actually giving results. Amid the insecurity in Nigeria and rumours of war, he has proven to be a leader who is undeterred by difficult circumstances. Wike has delivered enviable projects to completion such as the modern hospital, modernisation of Mile 1 and Fruit Garden markets in PortHarcourt, Housing Estates in progress and access roads as well as the record breaking three overhead bridges within sixteen months.
What more, he has fuelled what is akin to the resilient spirit of Londoners into his citizens such that despite the recent coordinated attacks on security officers, the citizens are not cowered, but go on their way to make their daily contributions towards what makes Rivers State the envy of the nation.
Commercial activities are being revolutionised by the culmination of these patents, the psychological strength of the people, access to mobility, and modernised trading sites all which are directly related to the governors’s sheer will to stay on top of matters and not give in to powerful conniving opposition and falsely conspired negative narratives conjured, to undermine, distort or obfuscate his glaringly great efforts.
Furthermore, the governor’s synergy with other stakeholders towards relevant and innovative policing for the securing of lives and property would be another notch in enhancing the financial ecosystem. Fair minded social analysts would agree that Wike has distinguished himself as a leader with immense courage, focus and objectivity. He has steadfastly steered the ship through storms. Like London stood, so shall Rivers State stand and prosper because the foundation and tentacles for a prosperous people is in progress.
The citizens are fired with the resilience they draw from their leader and his innovative leadership.
1 [ https://www.investopedia.com/how-london-became-the-world-s-financial-hub-4589324 (25 Jun 2019)]
2 [https://www.cityam.com/innovation-is-why-london-is-ahead-of-new-york-hong-kong-and-frankfurt-as-worlds-financial-capital/]
3 [https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.export.org.uk/resource/resmgr/media/news/key-facts-about-the-uk-as-an.pdf]
Julie Dyer is a Lawyer, a Librarian & Information Services Professional with a background in Economics.
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