Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has denied allegations by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division of Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, that he offered him billions to compromise the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the state.
In a statement signed by the Division’s spokesman, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the army general noted that the governor chose to victimise him because he turned down the offer.
Sarham had made the allegation against Wike while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Army.
But speaking on Wednesday during a valedictory session of the state executive council, Wike denied the allegation, reiterating his accusation that the Army general was orchestrating massive oil theft in the state.
He further accused the Army general of sending soldiers to assassinate him on Febuary 15, 2019.
Addressing the members of the council, he said, “I thank you for the political support you gave me when there was no hope. At a time when the GOC came, you stood firm to say, you will not agree. We will continue to protect our votes.
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“They say they will remove me through the tribunal, but we defeated them during the elections. If it is to conduct elections, they will never win.
“Someone who says he never met me before and has never been to Government House would say I am fighting him because I tried to bribe him with billions of naira.
“The GOC has been fully involved in oil bunkering. He should explain his involvement instead of the false allegation.
“The House of Representatives Committee on Army was here; he could not say he was bribed. He is saying this because he is involved in oil bunkering.
“They know it is correct. Elections that we defeated you and your party, why would I have to pay bribe. We defeated you in that election.
“The man you have not met, how could he have offered to bribe you?”
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