…Knocks Ex-NIMASA Boss, Peterside Over N78bn FG Refund
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, has blasted governors and other elected public officials on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, describing them as treacherous.
In a statement titled: ‘Governors, Others Who Defect from PDP to APC Lack Conscience,’ and signed by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, Wike was quoted to have said this during the flag off of the Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery road and bridge with spur to the East-West Road at Woji town.
Wike said, “People who could not win an ordinary election. The party used technicality and went to court and got victory. Now, they say they are leaving the party. Hopeless, shameless human beings. People who have no conscience.”
Accusing the APC-led Federal Government of coercing PDP governors and members to join the ruling party, Wike added, “Bring everything you have against me; I will not join you. Rivers State will not join you. Even if it is only Rivers State in this country, we will continue to be in the PDP.”
He also took a swipe at the former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, for allegedly lying about the N78 billion Federal Government refund to the state.
He said, “I didn’t know he does not understand what they call a promissory note. The N78 billion was not backed up by cash by the Federal Government. N78 billion was approved by the Federal government, but not in cash.
“So, the bank has to come in to take it and discounted it, because the Federal Government is going to pay them back in the next four years. What Rivers State government got was N52 billion out of N78 billion. But, in principle, N78 billion was approved, but was there any cash? No cash to back it up.”
