Governor Nyesom Wike
of Rivers State has said he would not receive orders from President Muhammadu
Buhari regarding exempting oil companies from flying into his state.
Wike, lamenting
about flights still entering Rivers, said the state government is ready to
fight to protect its people rather than endanger lives by allowing oil
companies and expatriates to enter the state.
He said he would
only receive instructions when there is a dialogue with Buhari, adding that he
is not one of the ‘Beggar governors’ who visit Abuja to beg for funds for their
states.
According to him,
Nigeria is not a military government but a federal state.
Speaking during a
press briefing on Friday, Wike stressed that the state does not have N10bn to
make isolation centres to treat Rivers people, hence they would fight against
any plan to infect the state.
“Is this lockdown
only for the poor? It’s unfortunate for someone to go against the lockdown
rules of the government at this time.
“Akara sellers in
Lagos trying to make daily income are chased out of the street and carried to
court, but they said we should leave oil companies and allow them to operate
and fly.
“As long as they do
not enter my territory, I have no problem because we will fight, if we don’t
fight, we cannot survive.
“I don’t take orders
from Abuja but Rivers people. If they want to work with me they should come, I
will not go and beg them. If they want war, we will fight, but I will make sure
my people are protected from coronavirus.
“My people wouldn’t
die. I’m not against the federal government, what are we fighting for, but I
will do what is right if you want me to work with you, talk with me and don’t
give me a directive.
“Nobody can use
Rivers state as a toy, If you don’t like me, that will encourage me to like
myself. Even my father has never given directive but calls me and has a
dialogue for a way out, but you that is not my father will issue directive so
you can kill Rivers people.
“I won you in 2015,
I won you in 2019, have I not won, not one project in Rivers but you stay in
Abuja and give me directives I will not agree. We are in a federal system, but
governors have been reduced as beggars.
“We are not in a
military government where you will sit down in your office and direct me. I’m
not one of those governors that will come to Abuja to ask for help, so don’t
issue me a directive when you were elected like me.
“As a governor, the
right thing must be done so people must not die.
“Is there any oil
company operating in America, it’s only here in Nigeria. I’m a boy to Rivers
people, not anybody outside this state.
“The other time it
was Caverton, now it’s ExxonMobil. The lockdown is not for the poor alone; it
includes everybody.
“They are lucky
Caverton apologized, the MD sent me an apology text that evening from America
for us to release their pilots and comply with the rules.”
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I like this man. He is bold. No wonder the Bible said the righteous are as bold as lion
ReplyDeleteNice one Wike
ReplyDeleteAlways continue to fight for what is right in the eyes of God first and to the service of humanity -The people of Rivers State.
🙏
Wike is educating Nigerians on the rules of our constitutional democracy. The president cannot usurp the powers of a state unless a state-of-emergency is declared in event of breakdown of law and order which the state governor cannot handle. Buhari has no power to govern any state in the Federation.
ReplyDeleteNice one. I'm very pleased to meet you sir
ReplyDelete