Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says the credibility and integrity of the Zamfara State governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle is now at stake following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He said the preoccupation of any governor who meant well for his state ought to be the delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizenry and not to join “the APC that has failed Nigerians.”
The governor stated this during the inauguration of reconstructed Rumuigbo, Chief Johnson Amadi, Igbodo, Finima, Rumuopareli, Bauchi, Ohia and Isaac Boro streets in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.
“People must have respect for themselves. There are things I cannot do for the sake of my children. In 2019, Matawalle said I will never leave PDP. I will never disappoint PDP. If I disappoint PDP, I will never have peace in my life. Today, what has happened? Is everything politics? It is not true. Everything cannot be politics. Your credibility, your integrity is important in life. I will never betray my people.”
The governor said only spineless governors and politicians will succumb to threats and blackmail of the ruling APC to join the party or risk persecution. According to him, only governors who cannot perform decamp to APC, primarily to seek protection from a party that is allegedly fighting corruption.
“A governor invited Mr President (Muhammadu Buhari) to flag off a super highway of 260 km, and up till now, Mr President has not asked the governor about the highway,” he said.
Governor Wike explained his administration had since 2015 made conscientious effort to transform the landscape of Rivers State and restore the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the security situation in the state, Wike said the curfew imposed in the wake attacks on security formation would only be relaxed when he received security brief from the State Security Council.
“I will not lift the curfew until the security people tell me it is time to call off the curfew. Only criminals complain against the curfew. I prefer to protect life and property.”
Former governor of Abia State and senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji , who performed the inauguration of the eight streets, commended Governor Wike for the infrastructural transformation taking place in Rivers State.
He noted that Rivers people were happy with the achievements of Wike’s administration because the state remained the only place where projects were being flagged off and inaugurated every day and night.
