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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said Nigeria is in dire need of a unifier that would drive the affairs of governance without any form of segregation.
Governor Wike spoke at the inauguration of the Mgbuitanwo internal road in Emohua Local Government Area of the State, which was performed by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Monday.
Governor Wike expressed grave concern about how the diversity of the country has been grossly threatened by those who have resorted to campaigns on the basis of ethnic and regional sentiment.
According to the governor, such parochial tendencies would make Nigerians more divided along religious and ethnic lines than ever before.
The state governor stated further that members of his Integrity group were resolved to do what is right always as long as it would help to advance the county.
“It is not to say don’t vote for a Yoruba man, don’t vote for an Igbo man. That is not what we require in this country now. What we require is a man who will put Nigeria together. We of Integrity group will continue to support whatever that is right, whatever will help this country,” he stated.
The governor explained that he had tried in vain to persuade leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to allow Kwankwaso to leave the party because of the strategic importance of Kano State.
“When you wanted to leave PDP, I came to your house in Abuja. I said, sir, don’t leave the party. I pleaded with you. I came two times. Those who never meant well for this party, who will want to take control where they never sowed, said no, leave Kwankwaso to go. Who is he? Let him go, after all, I was a Senate President when he was Deputy Speaker House of Representatives.
“I said no, he is an asset to the party in Kano State. Kano is very important for our party. Therefore, whatever it takes, let’s keep him, let’s manage him. They said to let him go.
“I said the more the merrier. We are the opposition party, we cannot continue to drive our people away. Whoever is angry, let’s keep him, they said no. They said I went to see Kwankwaso, I said yes because I know with him in Kano, there is a likelihood that it will be better for us. But, if we allow him to go, the repercussion will be too heavy. They said no. Kwankwaso left us.
The Rivers governor described the NNPP presidential candidate and former governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso, as a man of integrity and number among leaders that Nigeria needs.
According to him, the NNPP presidential candidate had assured him that his supporters, who are still in PDP will vote for him during the PDP presidential primary and they did.
Governor Wike offered to provide protocol and logistics support to Kwankwaso whenever he wants to do his campaigns in Rivers State.
“If you’re coming for the campaign here, I will give you the logistic support for you to the campaign. You’re a former governor.”
He told Kwankwaso that it is difficult for any other party to win in Rivers State, therefore, it would be futile for him to waste resources, thinking he will win the election for any candidate of his party in the state.
About his comment on the release of unpaid 13 per cent derivation money from 1999 to date, by President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Wike said he never said other Niger Delta governors should show proof of what they have done with their States’ share.
Governor Wike stated that he only expressed his gratitude to President Buhari for releasing the money, which has helped him to execute a plethora of projects in the State.
“I never said people should account for their money. I never said so to anybody. All I said is people should thank Buhari for me, for giving me money to do all these projects. That is all I said. If you people are interpreting a different thing that is your own business. Is it wrong to thank somebody who has done well for you?”
Governor Wike emphasised that his administration has never spent more than 14 months to deliver on any project in the state.
He pointed to the Mgbuitanwo internal road as being among 20 other projects like the ninth and 10th flyovers that were all flagged off in June 2021, which had all been completed within the period.
Governor Wike said good governance is about the well-being of the people and if anybody in government or close to any top functionary is unable to attract a project to his or her community, such person has failed.
The governor stressed that his administration has delivered the Mgbuitanwo internal road which is where Senator Andrew Uchendu, an All Progressives Congress chieftain hails from.
He regretted that the former senator failed, while in government, to do the road for his community.
Governor Wike also mocked former Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chinda, because he failed to attract the government to do the roads for his Ogbakiri community, which his administration is now delivering for the people.
Performing the inauguration, the presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Kwankwaso, commended Governor Wike for engaging Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to deliver the best quality road in a rural community.
Kwankwaso noted that such a gesture speaks of a leader who loves his people and is doing his best to better their lot across sectors including the provision of quality educational infrastructure.
Kwankwaso stressed that those who are undermining the capability of the PDP G-5, particularly governor Wike, were doing so to their peril politically because Rivers State like Kano, and Lagos is critical to winning any election.
The NNPP presidential candidate stated that members of the Integrity Group led by Governor Wike were good people who will continue to do the right thing, and would be judged by posterity based on what they do.
On his part, Commissioner for Works, Dakorinima George-Kelly said the Mgbuitanwo internal roads are 39300 square meters, have 200 millimetres thickness, with 50 millimetres binder course, 50 millimetres wearing course fitted with street light and drains.
Regional Manager, South-South of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Jergen Fitcher, said they have continued to deliver standard infrastructure in support of Governor Wike’s policy of development of the state.
