Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says Nigeria is in dire need of a unifier that will drive the affairs of governance without any form of segregation.
Governor Wike said this at the inauguration of the Mgbuitanwo internal road in Emohua Local Government Area of the State.
The Mgbuitanwo internal roads were curated by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of New the 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 campaigning based on ethnic and regional sentiment. According to him.
Such parochial tendencies will make Nigerians more divided along religious and ethnic lines than ever before.
The Rivers State governor stated further that members of his integrity group are resolved to do what is right always as long as it will 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 night, whatever will help this country.”
The governor explained that he had tried in vain to persuade leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party not to allow Kwankwaso not 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 twice.
Those who never meant well for this party, who will want to take control where they never sowed. They 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 to the party, therefore, whatever it takes let’s keep him, they said to let him go.
“I said the more the merrier. We are opposed to station parties, 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 like the hood 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 State 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 the campaign. You’re a former governor.”
He, however, told Kwankwaso that it is difficult for any other party to win in Rivers State, therefore, it will 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% 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.
Rather, 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?”
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