Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared Wednesday, May 3, a public holiday.
The holiday is to enable people in the state to welcome President-elect Bola Tinubu, who embarks on a two-day visit to the State to commission projects.
Tinubu will be in the State today, Wednesday and Thursday, May 4.
The governor had promised to invite Tinubu to his State to commission projects when the President-Elect campaigned for votes in the state before the last election.
In a State-wide broadcast yesterday, he said a formal invitation was sent to the President-elect after the general elections, which he agreed to honour.
The Governor ordered all shops and business premises along Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State to close from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on the first day of the visit.
He urged all labour unions and security agencies to comply with the order. He also appealed to all people in the State to come out en masse to receive the visitor.
The holiday comes a day after the May 1 Workers’ Day holiday declared by the Federal Government.
Two similar holidays are coming up later in the month – the Children’s Day on May 27 and the President’s Inauguration Day on May 29.
Rivers is the first State President-elect will visit upon invitation since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the February 25 presidential election on March 1.
He is expected to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the ultra-modern Magistrates’ Court Complex in Port Harcourt, the State capital, during the visit.
Wike had invited political heavyweights, 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, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others, to commission projects.
