Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has declared May 3 as a public holiday to enable residents to welcome Bola Tinubu, president-elect, to the state.
In a broadcast on Tuesday, Wike said Tinubu would be paying a two-day visit to Rivers to commission some projects.
He said the visit by the president-elect is his first visit to any state since he won the election, adding that he will join the list of distinguished Nigerians who were hosted to either flag off or commission landmarks in Rivers.
Wike called on the people of the state to come out in great numbers and give the president-elect a rousing welcome during his visit.
“The president-elect of the federal republic of Nigeria, his excellency Bola Tinubu, will pay a two-day official visit to Rivers state from tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd to 4th of May to commission the Rumuokwuta-Rumuola flyover and the ultramodern magistrate complex in PortHarcout,” he said.
“Recall that during his presidential campaign visit to Rivers state, I indicated our intention to have our president-elect commission some of our strategic projects after the general election and sent him a formal invitation which he graciously accepted.
“For us, it is an honour to the government and people of Rivers state to host the president-elect on this historic visit. Consequently, I urge all Rivers citizens to come out en mass to receive our president-elect, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and display the traditional Rivers hospitality as he commissions these legacy projects to God’s glory and the advancement of our development.
“Given this, I hereby declare Wednesday, 3rd May 2023, a public holiday to enable the people of Rivers state to receive our president-elect rousingly.
“Furthermore, 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.”