“Politics of violence is not our strategy” – Gov Wike

The Rivers‘ Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that the politics of violence is alien to him because he is a believer in the rule of law.

The Governor maintained that even in the face of political provocation, unfounded allegations, and outright disregard for statutory laws by unruly political actors, his administration can not resort to political violence.

Governor Wike asserted the inauguration of the 17.2 kilometres long Bori-Kono Road that was held at Methodist Comprehensive High School Premises in Baen community of Khana Local Government Area on Friday.

The Governor said his administration has done so well for Rivers people in terms of project delivery, ensuring security, and promoting good governance, which has earned the political goodwill of Rivers’ electorate.

He stressed that already Rivers people are at home to listen to his political counsel on who to vote in the 2023 election, and there is no need to recourse to political violence against anybody.

The Governor noted that Senator Lee Maeba and Dr Abiye Sekibo have been trying to instigate violence in the State by deliberately violating a State law that prohibits the location of political offices in residential areas of the State.

“A few days ago, you (Maeba) and Abiye went to Igboukwu Street, D-Line (Port Harcourt) without the approval of the Government to site a political office.

“We are talking about Executive Orders 21 and 22 that have now been taken over by the law passed by the State House of Assembly. We did not send the Chairman of Port Harcourt Council to go and bring it (the building ) down. We have the powers.

Governor Wike spoke further insisting that “But we say, no, let’s take a step further. We went to Court to say, look, this violates the provisions of the law. It is the Court that has placed the seal-off.

“If we are violent since you want to try to see whether we are violent or not, we would have shown it. But you’ve been defeated. We have always followed due process and we cannot be violent.”

The Governor stressed that nobody was harassing anybody and preventing them from their political campaigns but such must be done in line with statutory laws of the State.

The Rivers Governor explained that his administration and other State Governors challenged Executive Order 10 that President Muhammadu Buhari signed in the Court and won at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

On the illegal deductions of State funds to support the Police Trust fund, Governor Wike explained that it was also challenged in court and the Federal Government was directed to refund Rivers State.

Governor Wike informed that the State is already in Court over VAT collection and remittance and another collection of funds by the Federal Government for one of its agencies without resorting to violence.

The Governor said instead of politicians daring to disobey Executive Orders 21 and 22, they should test the position of those regulations and laws in Court.

Otherwise, Governor Wike said under the prevailing system, nobody will dare disobey and not face the full wrath of the law.

Governor Wike also took time to dismiss the alleged assassination attempt levelled against him by Senator Lee Maeba.

The Governor said he had never contemplated sending people to kill the Senator because it is not his style of politics.

Governor Wike stressed that his explanation has become necessary to set the record straight for posterity.

He asserted that politically, Senator Lee Maeba is not a threat or a major influence on votes whether in the Khana council or the entire State.

Governor Wike insisted that while he was the Council Chairman, Chief of Staff, Minister, and now Governor, he attracted projects to his immediate community and the State. whereas, Senator Maeba has never attracted any project to Ogoni.

According to him, the former Senator was awarded an oil block, and instead of growing the business, it sold for $15M.

Even with such funds, Governor Wike maintained that Senator Maeba has never sponsored any Ogoni person on scholarship, or executed even a constituency project for his people.

Governor Wike challenged Senator Maeba to mention anything he had done for his people because the school he attended had not gotten any intervention from him. He further revealed that even the Bori Town Internal Roads and East-West Road that was awarded to him was not done.

The Rivers State Governor said despite the refusal of Senator Maeba to execute the contract concerning Bori Town Internal Roads, he will re-award the project that will be likely completed by the administration of Peoples Democratic Party governorship Candidate, Siminialayi Fubara when he wins the 2023 general election as Governor.

Describing the project, Dr George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo said the contract for the construction of Bori -Kono Road was done in March 2022 and work started in June 2021.

Dr Alabo explained that the first phase of the project, the 16.5 kilometres long Saakpenwa- Bori was completed long and the second phase of 17.29 kilometres long Bori-Kono Road has also been completed making a total length of 33.79 kilometres Road.

He noted that Bori -the Kono project is essentially a major booster of the socio-economic dynamics of Ogoni land. This is because the road connects three Local Government Areas in Ogoni land and serves as a route to neighbouring Opobo/ Nkoro and Andoni Local Government Areas.

General Manager, of CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Eric Shen, commended the Rivers State Government for the confidence reposed in the company.

He assured the Governor the Company remains committed to working with the State Government in its drive to advance the socioeconomic fortunes of the State.