Rivers has nothing to show for supporting PDP, says Wike

• Published date: 10 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The February 25 presidential election will be used to prove strategic importance of Rivers State in Nigeria's politics, Governor Nyesom Wike said yesterday.

He said there was nothing to show for the state's support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999, stating that Rivers would no long be dumping ground.

Wike spoke at Elele Civic Centre, where he kicked-off the construction of Elele Internal Roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

He reminded the people that Rivers stood strong in the scheme of national affairs, adding that anybody supported by the state should reciprocate the gesture.

The governor described as unfortunate that instead of appreciating the reality, some people have been busy issuing political threats against the state.

He warned those dishing out threats to have a rethink to avoid problems.

According to him, Rivers had remained the bedrock of the PDP since 1999, provided the party with bulk of votes and logistics than any PDP state in the country.

The governor boasted that there would have been no PDP without Rivers State.

He said: 'Despite the state's contributions, there is nothing of note, in terms of project that can be reckoned as benefit to justify the support,' the governor said.

Wike recalled that Rivers refused to enter into negotiation with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government as done by other states and did not give President Muhammadu Buhari 25 per cent votes in the 2019 election despite the heavy military presence in the state.

He explained that Rivers ranked above other states and therefore must be treated with respect.

Ahead of the elections, the governor disclosed that some politicians were mounting pressure on the National Assembly to speedily pass the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) N500 billion budget.

He said: 'Since the NDDC was established, look at the money that has gone into the commission, what can we show for it? The NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians. The President has just inaugurated the new board of the NDDC.

'You know what is going on now? There is N500 billion budget for NDDC. Election is coming from February 25, Now, what the politicians have done is to put pressure on the National...