Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has urged President Muhammadu
Buhari, to heed the clamour for fiscal federalism and restructuring, to
douse brewing tension in the country.
Governor Wike, said stakeholders in the South-South and other
geopolitical zones that met with the delegation led by Chief of Staff to
the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, have expressed their
grievances, which must be genuinely addressed.
The Rivers State governor, stated this when he featured as a guest on
Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily on Thursday.
Governor Wike noted that stakeholders in the South-South on Tuesday in
Port Harcourt, ventilated their expectations, and what was now required
is political leadership and will by the President to implement the
demands.
“President Buhari, has an opportunity today, that Nigerians are saying
these are the things we want; these are the things we think can move
Nigeria forward. And you have to show leadership by saying, I have
listened to you and these are things we can implement. You may not
necessarily implement everything that the people are talking about or
people may want. But let people say that under President Buhari, he has
been able to implement one, two, three, and four demands by the people.
“But, if he does not take this opportunity now, and does not implement
some of these requests, I don’t think it will be very good for Nigeria
and for his legacy. I don’t think that will mean well.”
The governor stated that despite reservation in some quarters about the
readiness of the federal government to address issues raised, he
implored President Buhari to avail himself this rare opportunity to
address nagging issues militating against the stability of the country.
“If the president does not do, given the opportunity he has now, then,
he will put Nigeria on fire.”
Governor Wike acknowledged that some of the salient demands of the
South-South zone require will constitutional amendment. He implored the
President that whenever the National Assembly carries out constitutional
amendment as it concerns restructuring, true federalism, and resource
control, he should not refuse to assent to it.
“But, again, if a constitutional amendment is being made and the
President vetoes or says no, he will not sign it as it has happened
under the Electoral Act, then it will become a problem for Nigerians.”
He dismissed insinuation by the Deputy Senate President, Obarisi Ovie
Omo-Agege, that National Assembly members and ministers from the zone
were not consulted before Tuesday’s meeting with the presidential
delegation.
“We are playing politics with issues that concern Nigerians; issues that
concern the region. I don’t need to be told, assuming I am a legislator,
and something like this happens, I will rush back to the State to meet
the governor; to meet the stakeholders, and say what do we do. You don’t
need to wait for the governor to call you. It is your own responsibility
as a representative of the people. You heard that your state has been
burnt down, for example, you don’t expect somebody who is bereaved to
begin to call, to say I am bereaved.”
He described as regrettable the absence of the Minister of
Transportation, who arrived at the Government House, Port Harcourt, with
the Chief of Staff for the crucial stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, but
failed to participate in the event for inexplicable reasons.
“When I told the Chief of Staff, where is my own Minister, he was also
shocked, because he knew that the Minister was at the airport with
them.”
Governor Wike said President Buhari has done the needful by appointing
people to manage the affairs of NDDC for the interest of the region.
But, regrettably, those appointed are politicians who have refused to
work with PDP governors in the region. He accused the NDDC of pervasive
corruption to the extent of claiming projects done by Rivers State
government, as its own.
“Rivers State Government went to court and challenged NDDC that you
cannot do what you are doing without consultation, without the approval
of the State Government. And the court agreed with the Rivers State
government that you are right. NDDC you cannot do what you are doing.
You are distorting the physical development of the state.”
The governor lamented the continuous politicisation of security in the
country to the extent that this has prevented the take-off of operations
of the State Neighbourhood Safety Corps. He accused the Nigerian Army,
which ironically, has given tactical support to similar outfits in APC
controlled states like Lagos and Kogi, of preventing the State Safety
Corps to operate, despite legislative backing.
He, also wondered why the Police Command would be contemplating
community policing without the involvement of State governors.
“You are talking about community policing and then State government is
not involved. Who pays these officers or the men who are involved in
community policing? You stay in Abuja, you take a decision, you recruit,
then you come and tell the state government to come and pay, it does not
work that way.
“And what do you mean by community policing? You are talking about how
to provide security in various communities. Who is in charge of these
communities? And that is the problem we have in our own federal
structure. You cannot say you operate a true federal system when you
have only one Police command.”
Governor Wike dismissed the claim that the State government was owing
personnel of the Rivers State Transport Company. He explained that the
State does not have such employees on its database.
He explained that before the advent of his administration, the State
transport company had been operating as a franchise, without remitting
proceeds to the State government.