Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has told the immediate past governor of the state and current Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rotimi Amaechi, that he cannot impose a governor on Rivers people.
Speaking in an interview at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike identified godfatherism as a major political crisis impeding development across the country. He regretted that some former governors and outgoing governors expend energy and resources to impose successors on their respective states.
He said the struggle to impose a governor on Rivers people is the reason behind the conflict between him and Amaechi.
He said: “I will not support anyone dictating what happens in Rivers State. The crisis you are seeing is the struggle to bring a successor.
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“Everybody who worked with him is bad. I held the home-front when he ran away to Ghana on exile, and the other senator he is fighting worked for him. If everyone who associates with you is bad, then, something is fundamentally wrong.
“After spending eight years as governor, someone wants to superintend on the activities of the state. This is not Lagos State. We are different.”
The governor said former state governor, Dr. Peter Odili, is not involved in any form of political conflicts because he has transformed into a statesman, who is not desperate to impose a governor.
Wike said when he concludes his two-terms as governor in 2023, he will not be involved in the struggle to impose a successor.
Commenting on the successful hosting of NAFEST 2018, Wike urged the participants and journalists at the weeklong festival to serve as ambassadors of Rivers State.
He said the news of the peace and good investment climate of Rivers State is spreading across the world, as the state has hosted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention and the presidential visit without any security breaches, because of the reliable security architecture of the state.
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The governor wondered why some persons struggle in vain to de-market the state by sponsoring ugly false propaganda against Rivers.
Wike said his administration will continue to sponsor annual cultural events to place Rivers State in the front burner of national attention.
He noted that culture would help drive the country forward, hence, the necessary investments must be made in this direction.