Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike says his administration’s achievements have “killed” off the opposition in the state.
According to a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Adviser on Media, Wike made the assertion during the reception organised by the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to welcome thousands of APC members back into PDP.
Former Director of Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Henry Ogiri; APC South-South Administrative Officer, Gloria Boma; Mr. Lolo Ibieneye and Alhaji Hassan Douglas led the defectors back to PDP.
Wike noted that prior to 2015, the APC had promised to transform the country, fix the East-West Road, and provide good governance to Nigerians.
On the contrary, he said, the APC has continued to give excuses for its colossal failure after it orchestrated the unfortunate conspiracy to remove President Goodluck Jonathan from office.
“Are things better today? So why do you allow people to tell you lies. How long can you continue to listen to the lies of the All Progressives Congress. They have nothing for Nigerians. It is unfortunate that there was a conspiracy to remove a Niger Delta person as President,” he said.
The governor, who bemoaned the alleged marginalisation of Rivers State, regretted that several years after the Federal Government awarded the N120 Billion Bodo-Bonny Road, it has failed to provide its counterpart funding, allowing only the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to finance the project.
“Look at since they started the Bonny-Bodo road, what has happened? As we speak, Federal Government has not released their counterpart funding for that road. Now, NLNG said let us do it and then deduct it from the tax we are going to pay to the federal government. Is it how they have been doing in other states?” he asked.
The governor noted that ahead of the 2023 general election, the APC has again started making false promises to construct a University of Transport, develop a deep sea port and industrial park in the State.
“By next year, political activities will kick start, when will they build infrastructure again? Somebody will come and tell you people, Federal Government has approved industrial park; they have approved deep sea port in Bonny,” he said.
Wike said the PDP provided the only hope for Nigerians and congratulated the defectors for their courage to return to the party. He assured them that they would be accorded the same respect as every other party member.
Rivers state Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor noted that no local government in the State is without any development project by Wike.
According to him, this has continued to endear the people to the PDP.
Ambassador Akawor who gave each leader of the defectors umbrella and party membership cards, said the returnees are convinced that the PDP is a party that believes in good governance and means well for the Rivers people.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Dr Henry Ogiri said they were motivated to return to the PDP because of the quality of people oriented projects embarked upon by Wike.
He promised on behalf of the others to be loyal to PDP and work to ensure that APC does not exist anymore in the state.