From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has expressed disappointment with the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the lingering crisis in the party.
He has also declared that no amount of blackmail and intimidation would stop him from speaking the truth.
Also, the governor has raised the alarm over the N500 billion budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has attracted much pressure on the National Assembly for its approval, especially as elections start in February 2023.
Wike spoke when the management teams of the Sun and Leadership Newspapers came to officially present their respective letters of award to the governor.
The Rivers State governor restated that the election that produced the presidential candidate of the party was shrouded with fraudulent practices.
Wike said if not for his love for the PDP, he would have gone to court to challenge the process, stressing that no amount of campaign of calumny against him could stop him from saying the truth.
Describing the NDDC budget as fraudulent, Wike said political leaders are mounting pressure on the National Assembly to pass the budget so that they can share it ahead of the general elections.
The governor said: “Take for example what is happening in NDDC. You know the day NDDC came here, I told them. Sometimes I say, should I not be ashamed that I came from the Niger Delta? Every day, we are talking about exploitation. Who is exploiting who?
“Since the inception of NDDC, let them show us the regional project they have embarked upon that changed the landscape of the area. Let them mention one.
“How does NDDC come to a state and start to construct without the contribution of the state government? Do you know the blueprint of the state? How do you go to a community and start
building a school? Is the school your own? Who is going to run the school? Why not go to the state and ask the government; what is your priority? What do you want NDDC to do for you in your state?
“What are they doing now? NDDC is expecting N500 billion. Go and see the pressure they are mounting on the National Assembly to approve the budget of NDDC because the election is on February 25. They have say down now to butcher N500 billion. Tomorrow, if you come back, nothing is happening in Niger Delta.
“If you see the budget of 2022, ask them; which governor made an input in that budget? Go and see. In the budget, you will see N4 billion for the desilting of drainages. So, NDDC has now come to clean gutters in our state. What kind of system is this?”
Governor Wike, however, thanked Sun Publishing Limited for the 2022 award, saying that media houses should give awards based on merits.
He said that society would get better and move forward when they play their major role as society’s watchdog, by making those in positions of authority account for their work.
Earlier, in his presentation, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the Sun Publishing Limited, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, said Governor Wike was given the award, ‘Courage in Leadership’, for proving to be a strong leader by creating strong institutions.
He described the Rivers State governor as an advocate of justice who has a strong voice in the PDP.
Ukeh stated: “The governor of Rivers State has proved to be a strong leader creating strong institutions.
“In the time of economic recession and reduced revenue, you created women’s inheritance, you created roads to the community that never had roads; you created law schools. You have changed the face of Rivers State and restored the glory of Rivers State.
“The governor of Rivers State is an advocate of justice, a strong voice in the political party.
