Governor Nyesom Wike on Tuesday declared Wednesday, 03 May, 2023, as a public holiday in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, over the visit of President-Elect Bola Tinubu.

Development Diaries reports that Tinubu is scheduled to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta flyover and the magistrates’ court complex in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

‘I hereby declare Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023, a public holiday to enable the people of Rivers State to receive our president-elect in rousing welcome’, he said.

‘All shops and business premises along Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in Obio/Akpor local government area of the state shall remain closed from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023.

‘I urge all labour unions and security agencies to comply with this closure order’.

With this announcement, one is left to wonder about the motive behind the public holiday as ‘president-elect’ is not an official position.

Recall that in 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Rivers State to inaugurate key projects executed by the Wike administration.

Similarly, in November 2022, Wike invited members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party to the fourth quarter project commissioning in the state.

He has also welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari and former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, both members of the APC, as well as Peter Obi to the state.

However, on those occasions, he did not declare a public holiday. What then is so special, now?

Recall, too, that in January 2023, the Yobe State government declared a two-day public holiday to welcome President Buhari.

Development Diaries believes that while the Public Holidays Act in Nigeria empowers a state governor to declare any special day as a public holiday in his state or any part of his state (as long as it does not conflict with that of the president), this power should not be abused.

Closing offices and business operations in Rivers State to receive the president-elect is an inappropriate action by the governor.

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