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From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned that nobody should make the mistake of thinking that Rivers of yesteryears is the same now.
The governor stated that federal government with all its might fought the state and failed, and Rivers would no longer play second fiddle in the country again.
He spoke yesterday, at the commissioning of the newly built Rivers State University Campus at Abara community in Etche Local Government of the state.
Governor Wike recalled that since 1999, the state had given the highest support to the People’s Democratic Party, vowing that the tide would change in the forthcoming general elections.
He said: “Since 1999, we have polled the highest votes for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Since 1999, I challenge any state to say they have polled more votes than Rivers State. Since 1999, I challenge any state in terms of support for PDP. Which state has given more supports than Rivers State?
“No federal government project in Rivers State. No project. If you want my vote, tell me what you have for Rivers State. Nothing can be for free again.
“Enough is enough of using Rivers State and thinking that we are foolish people, we don’t know what we can do with our money. Enough is enough of thinking Rivers State will bring the votes. When they bring, you push them away. Tell Rivers people what you are going to do with their votes.
“Tell Rivers people what you are going to do for them and not me. There is nothing any of you can do for me. Nobody can buy me. I am not going to look for position. Have I not been a minister? So, what are you going to use to entice me as a person? If you don’t tell me what my state will get, then, forget me.”
The Rivers State governor emphasized that no amount of intimidation or threat could change, saying that those who were casting aspersions to now we’re those that sold out the party before.
He declared: “No amount of intimidation, no amount of threat… This government fought us; but, we survived it. Most of them who are talking now, if federal government had descended on them, they would have crumbled.
“When they were going to negotiate for Buhari in 2019, they came to me. I said no negotiation. Those of them who made sure that PDP did not survive since 2015, I see them today opening their mouths. Those of them who sold this party are today, calling us boys. They boys stayed back and keep the party.”
Governor Wike vowed that nobody would stay in Abuja to dictate what would happen in the state and advised the citizens not to succumb to intimidation.
“You mean as a governor, I will go to Abuja and kneel for who? Governor of Rivers State to kneel down for who? Which state is the person from?
On the project, Governor Wike declared that he was not sure of any federal government-owned university in the country that pays its lecturers than Rivers universities.
He commended members of the governing council of the university for their commitment, saying they had worked to justify the resources budgeted for the institution.
The governor thanked God that lecturers of the state-owned universities did not join the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), saying that there was no reason for them to do so.
