Okenyi Kenechi
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Rivers state governor, on Wednesday, declared that no amount of blackmail and propaganda will alter the termination of the sale of valued state assets to Sahara Energy Limited.
The governor made the assertion in wake of Tonye Cole’s claims that termination of the sale of the state-owned assets portrays the state as unsafe for investors.
Cole who is also the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress said Wike’s stance on the matter is born out of vindictiveness, adding that the governor does not obey rule of law.
But Governor Wike who spoke during the 2018 Ogbakor Etche December Convention at Obiri Etche, Umugwu, Okehi, said that the termination of sale of valued state assets to Sahara Energy followed due process.
However, Wike urged Cole to go to court.
According to him: “No amount of blackmail will change the situation. The courts are there for them to seek redress.
“Rivers and Lagos States are not the same. No single man can dictate what happens in Rivers State. We have different ethnic groups and culture”, he said.
“The Rivers State Government was not vindictive in terminating the sale of valued state assets to Sahara Energy Limited. One company used three subsidiaries to illegally acquire state assets.
“If there was any vindictiveness, it was on the part of those who used the State Government to deny Rivers people their valued state assets”.
The governor said that the Rivers State Government resolved to implement the White Paper on the recommendations of the Justice Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the sale of valued state assets because there is no stay of execution stopping the administration.
He said that the godfather of Tonye Cole and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi lost at the High Court and Court of Appeal when he tried to stop the implementation of the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
Governor Wike said the Minister of Transportation and his business partner illegally bought over State assets with a plot to install Tonye Cole for the purchase of more state assets.
“Rivers people have come to know that only one person bought all their assets. He came and took what belongs to the entire state. Now they want to acquire more”, he said.
Speaking further, Governor Wike said he will continue to support Etche ethnic nationality and develop their communities through key projects.
He said that his administration will complete the State Sports Academy and all ongoing road projects in Etche to further enhance the economy of the area.
The governor said that more than any other administration in the past, he has executed key projects in the area.
On the forthcoming elections, Governor Wike urged Rivers people not to vote APC because the Federal Government has not executed any single project in Rivers State.
