Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has said that the federal government has not informed him of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s to the state or why he is coming to the state.
He, however, offered that the president’s visit might be aimed at reviving the dwindling fortunes of the All Progressive Congress, APC, which the governor described as dead in the state.
The governor made the assertion Thursday, March 8, 2018, while flagging off the reconstruction of Egbelu Street and construction of link roads in East-West in Rumuodara, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
“I hear they say that the president is coming to our state. I have not been told the president is coming and why he is coming. He has the right to come to any state,” Wike said.
“Maybe the president is coming to make sure that he will improve the fortunes of the APC that is dead in Rivers State.
“Apart from Jesus Christ, we don’t know of anyone who has risen a dead thing. APC is a dead party in Rivers State. No matter how you fast and pray, it will never wake up”, Wike declared.
Rivers State is listed among the states President Buhari would be visiting over the recent unwarranted killing of innocent people with Benue, Taraba and Plateau state also on the list.
But the governor charged Rivers people not to be bothered about the politics or otherwise of the visit, because the state is very peaceful.
He said; “Let nobody bother him or herself that the President is coming for security reasons. We don’t have security challenges in the state.
“We have never had herdsmen killings or crisis in the state, except when some criminals tried to disrupt the peace and they were checked. We resolved that challenge”.
He stated that there is no state in this country where kidnappers and armed robbers are not operating. He said if President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting because of Kidnappers and Armed Robbers, then he should visit all the 36 states.
He, however, noted that as the state that produces the wealth that supports the country, President is welcome to visit the wealth producers of the nation.
According to him: “Since the administration has abandoned Rivers State for three years, this visit may be a blessing in disguise. The President may use the visit to complete the Port Harcourt International Airport, the neglected East-West road, the neglected seaports and the rejected Port Harcourt-Aba road”.
Speaking on the road, Governor Wike said the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Jaja drew his attention to the challenges faced by residents of the populated suburbs.
He urged the people to cooperate with the contractors to ensure scheduled completion of the road.
Dum Dekor, the commissioner of works, said the seven roads will be completed in six months, while the project will offer employment to 230 youths.
The works commissioner noted that the road construction will also resolve the environmental challenges facing the residents.
