Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that the partnership between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission to monitor campaign finances ahead of 2019 elections is a witch-hunt targeted at the opposition.
Speaking during a special appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily broadcast from the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Governor Wike described the partnership as a political deception.
He said: “EFCC working with INEC to investigate campaign finances is merely a smokescreen. It is targeted at the opposition party.
“When have you heard that EFCC would come up to say, as regards the ruling party, funds came from the government. I will not be carried away by the so-called EFCC investigation.”
Governor Wike noted that the EFCC was working towards creating an atmosphere of advantage for the ruling party in the long run.
He said: “The fund they want to investigate is only when it has to do with the opposition states. Take for example, EFCC said PDP spent money in the last 2015 elections.
“Has EFCC investigated those states that were APC’s, like Rivers State at that time that funded part of their election. Who is deceiving who? EFCC is only working to witch-hunt the opposition. “
The governor regretted that since 2015, the APC Federal Government had been unable to complete the Port Harcourt International Airport.
He said despite criticising Jonathan, the APC Federal Government had refused to upgrade the airport.
“When you look at the whole thing, you see the hatred; how this government does not like the people of Rivers State,” the governor said.
Commenting on the 2019 elections, Governor Wike said that the desperate rigging moves on August 18, 2018 at the Port Harcourt State Constituency III elections indicate that the APC was not ready for elections.
“Through the Port Harcourt State Constituency III Election, they revealed to us what they planned for 2019. They don’t want election. They want to use security to rig,” he said.
Governor Wike denied claims that he drafted a presidential aspirant from another political party to fly the party’s flag.
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He stated that no single governor could achieve that.
“We have 36 states and Abuja. We have about 14 governors. How can a governor of one state lure a particular aspirant to run for the presidential election.
“I am not a member of the convention planning committee. I am only providing the venue. I am not going to be a member of any sub-committee, so where does the influence. In any case, if you like you do the election in Lagos, people will still have influence,” Governor Wike said.
He reiterated his position that certain presidential aspirants were funded by the APC and planted in the PDP ahead of the primary.
He said: “As I speak with you, just yesterday, certain presidential aspirants and some people in the ruling party met to take some steps to make sure that our convention fails.”
Speaking on the environmental challenge posed by flooding, Governor Wike said that the State Government had established an emergency response team to tackle issue.
He added that the State Government was working with other stakeholders to end the prevalence of soot in the state.
