By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, despite “his pretense as an apostle of free and fair elections in Nigeria,” lacks moral grounds to talk about credible ballot, says Dakuku Peterside who contested against him in 2015.
The former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate described Wike as “the worst hypocrite” since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999.
Peterside spoke in Port Harcourt in reaction to Wike’s allegation that some people are plotting to rig the 2023 vote and to his criticism of excessive borrowing by Abuja.
He insisted that Wike is a “notorious culprit” of everything he accuses the federal government of plotting and committing.
“Wike has gained notoriety for all manner of electoral fraud, bribery of INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] officials, wilful borrowing, and stifling of the state’s legislature.
“Here is Wike that the Appeal Court agreed that he mindlessly rigged 2015 governorship election, with the death of hundreds of Rivers people and usage of underhand tactics to ride into power,” Peterside said.
“Rivers people lost their loved ones in no less than six LGAs all because of the desperation of one man who sadistically chose to grab power by all means possible.
“This is the same Governor who is on record to have given INEC officials over N300m to rig election in Rivers State, the same man who is alleged to have bribed judges to sway decisions in his favour.
“How can such [a] notorious person pontificate over how to conduct free, fair and credible election? He has absolutely no moral right to speak on credible electoral processes.”
Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, questioned why Wike condemns federal loans when he has borrowed over N300 billion despite increased allocation, Paris Club refund, among others from the Federation Account and internally generated revenue (IGR).
“As of today Rivers State government is owing over N300bn from different sources. This is an administration that has received N110bn from Paris Club refund, N78bn for roads constructed by his predecessor, over N2.5trn from Federal Allocation without commensurate works to show for it.
“Only yesterday [September 27], the state executive council approved further borrowing of N25bn without stating where the money would be borrowed from and how much is allocated to each of the items that necessitated the borrowing; things are just shrouded in secrecy and lack of open bidding or following due process.
“Under Wike’s administration, Rivers people have not been opportune to see the state’s budget in the last six years, hence do not even know what is contained in it and be able to benchmark his claims.”
Peterside knocked Wike for talking about the independence of the legislature when the Rivers State House of Assembly has been “castrated” by his whims and caprices.
“Rivers State House of Assembly only sits when Wike orders them to do so. Even when the National Assembly and President [Muhammadu] Buhari called for states’ legislature autonomy, the governor told his boys to reject it.
“Only last week, the Rivers State House of Assembly members could not sit because the roof of the hallowed chamber is leaking seriously, forcing his rubber stamp legislators to scamper for safety.
“I really sympathise with the legislators, who are afraid to even debate matters of their own welfare on the floor of the house for fear of the emperor, who may order stoppage of their salaries.
“Discerning Nigerians know who is Wike and would not be swayed by his fake conversion to an apostle of democratic ideals.”
