Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State has said that the members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Governors Forum cannot only acknowledge the worsening insecurity across the country and shy away from accepting the fact that their party, the APC, has failed Nigerians.
Wike explained that the APC Federal Government had promised to offer better governance that will ensure safety of life and property of all Nigerians but has failed.
Governor Wike made the assertion at the inauguration ceremony organised to open for public use two strategic roads; Woji Road, and Obagi Road, in GRA Phase 2 in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, and was performed by the Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde.
Governor Wike said virtually everything has collapsed in the country under the APC led Federal Government and if Nigeria is truly a democratic country, nobody will be a proud member of APC anymore.
“I hear the Progressives Governors Forum saying that there is insecurity. Who is responsible? They should come out openly and say that the party in power has failed. Nigerians gave mandate to APC at the Federal Government level and therefore, they must own up that they have failed Nigerians.
“Everything has collapsed in the country. Security has collapsed. Economic has collapsed. There is nothing working in the country. Today, all over Nigeria, there is insecurity everywhere.
“The other day, in Katsina State, they took about 400. The next day, they said they took 84. Now again they said they’ve taken a village head, the wife and 14 people in Katsina State.
“When there was problem in this State (Rivers), about the level of kidnapping, I shouted but nobody listened to us. They said it was politics and that we were killing APC people. I said when you introduce politics to security the consequences will be great.
“Now, it is everywhere. Until they come to apologise to Rivers State that they are sorry for what they have done to us, then God will forgive all of them.”
The governor further said he has not disappointed Rivers people who gave him their mandate to improve the quality of living in the State, improve infrastructure, guarantee the security of life and property.
According to him, he is not tired serving the state, and when he eventually leaves office, he can confidently walk on the streets without security protection because he has served the people well.
“We are proud because we can come out and say to the people of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Governments this is what PDP has done for you by the projects carried out in these two local governments.
“Also, we can go to other local governments and say look, vote for us. If they ask us why do you say we should vote for you, we will show proofs. Very soon, we go to them and we will be able to tell them, yes, this is what we have done, therefore having done this, if you vote for us again there is the likelihood we will do more.”
Governor Wike enjoined owners of business places and other investors in the State to continue to pay their tax to enable government provide more quality projects .
On his part, Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde said with the evidence of the performance of Governor Wike, it will be difficult to convince Rivers people to abandon PDP for another party.
He noted that development projects are integral part of democracy because it is used to measure the level of progress a society makes under such democratic leadership and the Wike government has committed to that task.
“Indeed, all right minded people like to identify with progress irrespective of their personal feeling towards the initiator. Development is a big part of our democracy and every project counts towards the overall progress of the nation.
“We are blessed to be leaders at this point of Nigeria’s History where there seems to be reawakening of political consciousness especially among the young people.
“True, we have unique privilege of grooming a new crop of people who will see governance as service. We have remained too long in where people see public coffers as an extension of their personal accounts.
“At the next circle of election in 2023, Nigerians will show that they have learnt something from the event of this year, 2020 and that electoral decisions have consequences.”
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the two roads; Woji Road and Obagi Road are reconstructed to be 12 meters wide with street light and are built to the highest quality.
He explained that essentially, with the reconstruction, the geometric parameters of the roads have changed and will now offer such benefits as shorter travel time, reduced vehicle operating cost, less wear and tear on vehicles, and a boost in the economy because of ease of transportation of goods and services.
