Kelechi Kas
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, stated that he is not surprised by what happened at the House of Representatives, stating that trading has been placed above party loyalty at the House.
The House was thrown into near disorder on Wednesday over the announcement of minority leadership positions.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, had ignored list sent by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in which Kingsley Chinda, member representing Obio-Akpor federal constituency was nominated as the Minority Leader of the House.
He rather chose to use another list submitted by lawmakers from all the other opposition parties in the house.
Subsequently, Ndudi Elumelu was announced as the Minority Leader – a situation that led to protests as some aggrieved lawmakers attempted to take the maze.
But Wike, speaking during a Courtesy Visit by the Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday, Governor Wike stated that he is purely a party loyalist who believes in the ideals of the PDP.
He said: “I am not surprised. When you have traders and merchants, what do you expect?
“It is unfortunate for those who do not understand what politics is all about. I am a core party man. I believe in the party”.
Governor Wike said that peer review is necessary to advance the course of development across the states of the Federation.
“I am happy about this visit. We shall reciprocate the visit at the appropriate time. It is good for us to continue to compare notes to learn best practices from each other “, he said.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Oyo State Governor to move the state forward and entrench development.
Earlier, Oyo State Governor, Oluseyi Makinde said what happened at the House of Representatives where the position of the PDP has subverted calls for concern.
“We all saw what happened at the National Assembly yesterday, they are things that call for concern, if the party takes a position on certain things, we want to ensure that, that is carried through”, he said.
He added that he was in Rivers State to also discuss issues of true federalism and the role of states in the development process.
Governor Makinde commended the Rivers State Governor for his developmental strides during his first term, saying that he expects him to deliver more projects for the people.
“We have seen the giant strides of the Governor during his first term. We are here to learn from him”, he said.
