Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that he never promised anyone the governor’s seat as being alleged from different quaters.
He vowed to resign from office if anyone could prove he promised to make him his successor.
The governor stated this during a reception in his honour to celebrate the ‘Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery’ in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Wike said by virtue of his character, it was inconceivable that he would make a promise to help someone succeed him and then renege on it.
He noted that it had become important to correct the lies peddled by some persons that he reneged on his promise to make them his successor.
According to him, “God gives power. There is never any day I have ever sat with anybody, I challenge whoever will say he sat with me and I made a promise to him that, look the way things are going, you will be the (next) governor. If anybody can come out and challenge me, I will resign as governor of Rivers State.”
He explained that during every political transition, it was natural for any politicians to be ambitious, reiterating that never at any time since his assumption of the office did he promise anyone the seat of the governor of Rivers State.
“I never, because if I did, my conscience won’t allow me to sleep. Anything I tell you I will do, I will do it, it doesn’t matter what it is.”
The governor also expressed happiness with the award conferred on him by the President Muhammadu Buhari.
Wike, who dedicated the award to God, said the successes his administration recorded in infrastructural development were made possible by the benevolence and support he received from the state.
He said, If the ruling party (All Progressives Congress) can say you have done well, who is that person, let them come and campaign here. Bring your report card, I will bring the award and the certificate. President Buhari said, “you (Wike) have done well.”
Wike disclosed he had authorised the Accountant General of State to pay a total of N60 billion to contractors working on various projects in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to enable them to conclude the projects on time.
He maintained that he will not abandon any project started by his administration for the incoming government.
In his goodwill message, the former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, said the award bestowed on governor Wike by President Buhari is the best honour that Rivers State has received since its creation.
“For Mr President, who is President on another platform to confer that honour on a governor, who is on a different opposition platform, is not an easy business. It is unique, it is historic, may almighty God bless you for bringing that honour to the State.
The former governor noted that whenever people talk about the achievements of the Governor, what comes to mind are the flyover bridges, roads, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure while stressing that people have failed to see the governor’s huge investment in human resource development.
“One investment that you have made which people are not seeing now, but will see in future, is your investment in human resource development. As we speak, you have positioned Rivers State to become the greatest producer of human resource in the medical and legal profession for the future.
“From next year, which is the year you’re going to terminate your tenure as governor, you have laid the foundation for Rivers State to produce not less than a 100 medical doctors of Rivers State origin.
