Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has dismissed criticisms in some quarters regarding his congratulatory message to President Muhammadu Buhari after the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal confirmed his election.
He said it was better to offer public congratulations than visit the President at night as some of his colleagues do.
Governor Wike stated this on Thursday while speaking at the funeral service in honour of late Madam Blessing Awuse, Mother of Ohna Sergent Chidi Awuse, at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Emohua.
He explaind that unlike some Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who visit President Muhammadu Buhari at night, he decided to make his declaration public because it came from his heart.
“I am sure all of you are surprised that I congratulated Buhari. Is it not good for me to congratulate him, than to go to his house in the night?
“So many PDP Govenrors go to see him in his house in the night. I have never gone and I will not go. I won’t go. We are the only state that the Federal Government refused to pay our money used to execute Federal projects because I don’t go to see him in the night and I won’t go.
“He is not my friend, he is not doing well, but he won in court, should I say that the court did wrong, no.
“President Buhari, congratulations and carry Nigerians along. Unify the country, the country is too divided. I am saying what is right. What I will do, I will do, what I will not do, I will not do,” the governor said.
Wike who emphasized that politics is a game of interest, said Rivers people in the All Progressives Congress, APC, are under obligation to attract Federal benefits to the state.
‘Politics is a game of interest. And my only interest is Rivers State. Anything that is against the interest of Rivers State, I will not agree.
He expressed displeasure that Rivers State has key links to President Muhammadu Buhari from the State, yet the East West Road, the seaports and other Federal projects have been completely neglected since 2015.
According to him, nothing indicates that Rivers State has prominent APC members working with President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said Rivers State is a major oil producing state that deserves major projects from the Federal Government.
“We produce oil. They should not punish Rivers State because of me. I am just one individual. We have not benefited anything from the Federal Government. The only thing we have benefited is the abuse they heap on me.
“They turned the NDDC into a cash cow to sponsor elections against us. Nobody protested that anomaly. Now they want us to protest because someone did not nominate the management of NDDC this time.
“Since 2015, NDDC has not had its governing board, but nobody protested. I will not be dragged into such protests,” he said.
In a press statement signed by the Special Assistant to Governor Wike on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, the Governor said the Late Mrs. Blessing Awuse, lived a fulfilled life and raised disciplined and trustworthy children describing her burial is a celebration of life.
