…Gives Account Of Stewardship
The governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has criticized the federal government saying democracy has been mismanaged with worsening insecurity and deteriorating economy.
The governor who spoke while presenting an account of stewardship in six years blamed the federal government for its inability to succeed.
Governor Wike said: “Let me use the liberty of this event to again voice our concerns and draw the attention of Nigerians to the state of the nation especially the deteriorating economy, worsening insecurity, lack of purposeful national leadership and strangulating hardship being faced by ordinary citizens as direct result of the visible failure and mismanagement of our democracy and diversity by the APC-led federal government”.
He said the nomination of aide of the president, Miss Lauretta Onochie, as National Commissioner in Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was bad omen for democracy.
He said that she would be partisan and work to favour the ruling party in forthcoming general election.
The Senate on Tuesday rejected her nomination.
He also said that the APC-led National Assembly was doing the biding of the president.
The governor said: “Despite flood of protests against her nomination and general lack of trust in her capacity to remain impartial it seems the APC-led Senate is determined to confirm her appointment as part of their grand design to rig the 2023 general election”.
He said they would do this because they know Nigerians would overwhelmingly reject the ruling party in a free, fair and transparent election.
The governor appealed to the president to “for the sake of his legacy withdraw Miss Onochie’s nomination” saying he needed to do this to avoid creating credibility problems for the electoral umpire and restore confidence.
He however said where the president would lack courage to withdraw the nomination the National Assembly should “endeavour to wake up on the right side of history by rejecting her nomination”.
He said he was making the appeal because he loved the country and would want democracy to survive.
He said electronic voting and simultaneous transmission of results had the potential to prevent large-scale rigging of elections in the country and appealed to the president to midwife a transparent electoral process.
The governor said that the status quo should not remain in the country’s electoral system and appealed to the president to ensure that he gives the country an Electoral Act with provisions for electronic voting and simultaneous transmission of results.
He said that it was troubling that the federal government was unable to tackle insecurity in the country and urged the federal government to perform its responsibility and protect lives and property.
He however said the government should otherwise admit lack of capacity and resign.
The governor said projects by his administration were all over the state saying it showed that his government was successful in using funds to develop the state.
He said he fulfilled promises and transformed the state and would get development projects for the state up till last day of his administration.
“I wish to assure you that there will be no let-up in our commitment and determination to deliver more projects to consolidate the progress we have achieved in the days and months ahead”.
He said crime rate in the state was low when compared to other states adding that the state was more secure, stable and safer in last six years.
He said internal roads provided new liase of life in rural areas.
He also said that multi-campus system was to provide more access to tertiary education and gave his account of stewardship across various sectors.
He thanked people of the state for their support and co-operation and understanding working with the government to build state of their dream.
There was huge audience at Obi Wali International Convention Centre with people dressed up in glowing colours for the account of stewardship.
The report of achievements by his administration in six years was unveiled by former governor of the state, Sir Dr Peter Odili, who described him as best governor.
