Wike: APC governors not developing their states

Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has challenged his counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to showcase projects they delivered in their various states.

Wike threw up the challenge on Tuesday when the Benue State Governor; Samuel Ortom inaugurated the Tombia Road, Ndoni Street and Amaji Street in New GRA Phase 2, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said only PDP governors were developing and delivering infrastructural projects in their various states.

He said such projects had continued to improve the wellbeing of the people insisting that development was happening only in PDP-controlled states.

He said: “Some few weeks ago, I was invited by the governor of Benue State to come and commission some projects. I went and I did commission not less than three road projects.

“They received us very well and I did say to him that the people of Rivers State will also like him to come and also commission projects in the state. So that Nigerians will know that the party in opposition is the party that means well for the development of this country.

“We challenge the ruling party to tell their states to roll out projects and invite people to come and commission them.”

Wike described his Benue counterpart as a man forthright, courageous man, who was committed to the development of his people.

He explained that when Ortom was undergoing persecution and intimidation, he stood firm, and stayed with the people, a quality he said endeared him to the Benue governor.

Wike said his relationship with Ortom was designed to make Rivers and Benue States including PDP to move forward.

He said: “One of the reasons why I invited the governor of Benue here is to let people know that there are people who are committed to the growth and development of this country. There are people who will never be intimidated because of their views. There are people who stand against injustice in this country.

“Governor Ortom is one of those governors that will stand firm in whatever he believes in. He does not care whether you’ll deny the people of Benue State what is due to them. He will still say the truth as it is. You all know what has happened in Benue State, what he has passed through, how they have tried to intimidate him but he has stood firm and said no.

“That’s the same thing we are doing here. No matter all the intimidation and what they are trying to do to us, we have stood firm to defend the interest of our state. And so for me, I will like to associate with people like this and that will make our state, our party and will make our country to move forward.”

In his remarks, Ortom said God destined him and Wike to work together as brothers and friends in speaking up for the voiceless and marginalised people in the country.

He said Nigeria had since 2015 ceased to be a country where equity, justice and fairness were promoted.

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He said there was no security in Nigeria adding that the economy was also in bad shape because of the depreciation the Naira had suffered under the leadership of the APC.

He further lamented the growing unemployment rate in the country that gave impetus to youth restiveness tagged #EndSARS protest.

He said: “Today, there is no more employment for our youths. That gave rise to the youth’s restiveness agitation called #EndSars Protest. I think any right-thinking man should not be thinking about leaving PDP for any other party or even the ruling party.

“We cannot be a one-party state. The PDP in 2015 did not suppress the opposition party to turn Nigeria to be a one-party state. Then, that is not a democracy anymore and so we want to appreciate governor Wike for standing as the beckons of the PDP.

“Wike is a very strong voice not just in Rivers State but in the whole country. He is a courageous and fearless leader, who is out for equity, fairness and justice. And that is what we need in our country today.

“As at today, the ruling party has not given us equity, fairness and justice. That is why we are having problems in this country.”

Ortom said when PDP was the ruling party; it never suppressed other parties alleging that the APC was driving the country along one party line.

He said: “There came a time when I was an outcast and my people in Benue State were outcast. Nobody cared to visit for fear of persecution. We were like the lepers in the Bible.

“Yet, Wike stood up and came all the way to Benue State to see how we were fairing. We had over 500,000 IDPs in camps then. It was not easy to fend for these people. Wike came with very distinguished leaders from Rivers State.

“He gave us to support that we never expected more than any other support, including what others did. We appreciate it and pray that such a thing should not come to Rivers State.”