The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has dared the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, to declare his assets. The challenge was issued in a statement released by the state’s party chairman, Dr, Davies Ikanya on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 in Port Harcourt.
According to the APC, the asset declaration was necessary in line with the requirements for the Office of the Governor and keeping with President Muhammadu Buhari’s mantra in promoting transparency and accountability. They also claimed that the people of the state were interested in learning about Governor Wike’s financial status.
The statement described the incumbent governor as a ‘caretaker’ governor.
Dr, Ikanya said; “In line with the code of conduct for elected public officers in Nigeria, we wish to advise Chief Wike to hasten to declare his assets.
“They have been waiting for their caretaker governor to follow the path of honour by declaring his assets, but he has conveniently chosen not to do so because he apparently has skeletons in his cupboard.
“There is, however, no hiding place for Wike as assets declaration is not optional but compulsory.”
However, the special Adviser to the governor, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, in reaction to the APC statement in describing a duly elected and sworn in governor as a ‘caretaker’ governor said that the party was being irresponsible.
He further explained that the governor was voted for by the people and would diligently complete his first tenure in office and proceed for a second tenure should Rivers people need him to. He advised the APC to stop wasting time thinking that the court would annul the governor’s mandate as they didn’t have proof that will override the people’s will.
“It is mere illusion on the part of the APC to think that the court would remove the governor. It is irresponsible of the opposition party to refer to an elected governor as caretaker governor.
“Let them know that Governor Wike is not a three-month governor because they (APC) don’t have any proof to make the court remove him. Again, they should know that the tribunal is a first instance court because there are two other courts.
“It is not that the tribunal does not have the power to annul election, but the state APC does not have the facts to support their claim,” Opunabo said.
The Rivers State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, in reaction to the call by the APC for Governor Wike to declare his assets said that the APC were simply crying wolf without any reason to. He described Governor Wike as a transparent man who knew the dictates of the law and would not go against them.
“Declaration of asset is a constitutional matter and we do not need the APC to remind us or the governor to do that. He (Wike) knows already that a public servant will declare his assets.
“No governor declared his assets immediately after his inauguration. So, why is the APC unnecessarily worried? The truth is that the APC in Rivers lacks the credibility to talk on Wike’s declaration of assets.
“The governor has begun to perform less than a month that he assumed office. The Rivers APC should stop crying wolf,” the state PDP chairman said.
