The All Progressives Congress has urged the Rivers State Government to stop bombarding the people with falsehood in an effort to deny Governor Nyesom Wike’s interest to contest the presidency in 2023.
Ogbonna Nwuke, spokesman of the party said the Governor’s real intent in splashing Rivers money in parts of the country has become exposed.
“Despite attempts by the Governor to pull red herrings over the eyes of well-meaning Rivers people, the primary reason why Rivers people are being starved, shoved aside and abandoned has been revealed.
“Rivers money has been used secretly to finance a presidential project and make other Nigerians rich while our people are left to wallow in abject poverty.”
Chief Nwuke said there was no need for the Rivers State Government to spread misinformation in order to hide the ambition of the State Governor.
“Everything is now in the open. Those who have received an overdose of Rivers money have decided to print posters announcing the actual intention of Governor Wike in 2023.
“Rivers State has become a goldmine besieged by fortune hunters who have free access to the treasures of the land while the landowners sit down and look.
“This is why Rivers Civil Servants and pensioners are treated with ignominy; why no effort is being made by this government to invest in the welfare of the masses.
“Rivers people are not deceived by the denial offered by the State Government. The jamboree which has brought many politicians to the State in recent times in the name of project commissioning was a hideous ploy to buy support for a presidential project that is doomed to fail.
“Governor Wike should have exhibited courage, not cowardice in telling Nigerians the truth. The truth is that he scheming. He has been exclusively funding the PDP, especially in the northern states, in preparation for his ambition in 2023.
“We wonder what Governor Aminu Tambuwal will be thinking now that the actual plan of Governor Wike, a supposed ally, is coming to light.”
“As a Nigerian, Governor Nyesom Wike has a right to run for the presidency; He has a right to donate chunks of money if he has so much to lavish; those rights do not amount to the right to spend Rivers money arbitrarily.
“The Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, has donated N50 million on behalf of Governors and their states. If Governor Wike contributed to the NGF donation, what was the reason for the same Governor to donate a whopping sum of N500 million to Sokoto State?
“We have spoken out on what we see as the attitude of the Governor towards the use of state funds. We have spoken on the ‘the accumulation of more than N300 billion in loans by this administration.
“Yet, the Governor continues to throw money in the air; and continues to shy away from tackling matters which directly affect the welfare of the Rivers working class and the well-being of Rivers people.
“Painfully, the money that the Governor is busy wasting and spending like his personal wealth belongs to Rivers State. Rivers people are gradually speaking up. They need to speak truth to power.
“We have sympathy for those who think that they can fool Rivers people. Rivers people are no fools. Rivers people have their eyes on the ball and they know that the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike is clearly taking them for a ride.”
The APC urged the people to “stand up and defend what truly belongs to them”, saying “Government is not thinking of the consequences of its actions.”
