Struggle to Impose Governor on Rivers, Cause of Conflict with Amaechi, Says Wike

Struggle to Impose Governor on Rivers, Cause of Conflict with Amaechi, Says Wike

By Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the struggle to impose a governor on the people of the state was the reason behind the conflict between him and the immediate past governor and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi.

 Speaking yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike regretted that some former and out-going governors expend energy and resources to impose successors on their respective states.

He declared that godfatherism is becoming a major political crisis impeding development across the country.

He said: “I will not support anyone dictating what will happen in Rivers State. The crisis you are seeing is the struggle to bring a successor.

 “Everybody who worked with him (Amaechi) is bad. I held the home-front when he ran away to Ghana on exile and the other Senator (Magnus Abe) he is fighting worked for him. If everyone that associates with you is bad, then something is fundamentally wrong.”

He added: “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 stated that former Rivers 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 would not be involved in the struggle to impose a successor.

 Commenting on the successful hosting of NAFEST 2018, Wike charged the participants and journalists at the week-long festival to serve as ambassadors of Rivers State. He said the news of the peace and good investment climate of Rivers State was spreading across the world as the state has hosted the PDP National Convention and the presidential visit.

He said the State hosted several thousands of people without any security breaches because of the reliable security architecture of the state.

 The governor wondered why some persons struggle in vain to de-market the state by sponsoring ugly false propaganda against Rivers State.

 Wike stated that his administration would continue to sponsor annual cultural events to place the state in the front burner of national attention.

 He noted that culture would help to drive the country forward, hence the necessary investments must be made in this direction.

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