Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has urged President Muhammadu
\nBuhari, to heed the clamour for fiscal federalism and restructuring, to
\ndouse brewing tension in the country.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike, said stakeholders in the South-South and other
\ngeopolitical zones that met with the delegation led by Chief of Staff to
\nthe President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, have expressed their
\ngrievances, which must be genuinely addressed.<\/p>\n
The Rivers State governor, stated this when he featured as a guest on
\nChannels Television programme, Sunrise Daily on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike noted that stakeholders in the South-South on Tuesday in
\nPort Harcourt, ventilated their expectations, and what was now required
\nis political leadership and will by the President to implement the
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
“President Buhari, has an opportunity today, that Nigerians are saying
\nthese are the things we want; these are the things we think can move
\nNigeria forward. And you have to show leadership by saying, I have
\nlistened to you and these are things we can implement. You may not
\nnecessarily implement everything that the people are talking about or
\npeople may want. But let people say that under President Buhari, he has
\nbeen able to implement one, two, three, and four demands by the people.<\/p>\n
“But, if he does not take this opportunity now, and does not implement
\nsome of these requests, I don’t think it will be very good for Nigeria
\nand for his legacy. I don’t think that will mean well.”<\/p>\n
The governor stated that despite reservation in some quarters about the
\nreadiness of the federal government to address issues raised, he
\nimplored President Buhari to avail himself this rare opportunity to
\naddress nagging issues militating against the stability of the country.<\/p>\n
“If the president does not do, given the opportunity he has now, then,
\nhe will put Nigeria on fire.”<\/p>\n
Governor Wike acknowledged that some of the salient demands of the
\nSouth-South zone require will constitutional amendment. He implored the
\nPresident that whenever the National Assembly carries out constitutional
\namendment as it concerns restructuring, true federalism, and resource
\ncontrol, he should not refuse to assent to it.<\/p>\n
“But, again, if a constitutional amendment is being made and the
\nPresident vetoes or says no, he will not sign it as it has happened
\nunder the Electoral Act, then it will become a problem for Nigerians.”<\/p>\n
He dismissed insinuation by the Deputy Senate President,\u00a0 Obarisi Ovie
\nOmo-Agege, that National Assembly members and ministers from the zone
\nwere not consulted before Tuesday’s meeting with the presidential
\ndelegation.<\/p>\n
“We are playing politics with issues that concern Nigerians; issues that
\nconcern the region. I don’t need to be told, assuming I am a legislator,
\nand something like this happens, I will rush back to the State to meet
\nthe governor; to meet the stakeholders, and say what do we do. You don’t
\nneed to wait for the governor to call you. It is your own responsibility
\nas a representative of the people. You heard that your state has been
\nburnt down, for example, you don’t\u00a0 expect somebody who is bereaved to
\nbegin to call, to say I am bereaved.”<\/p>\n
He described as regrettable the absence of the Minister of
\nTransportation, who arrived at the Government House, Port Harcourt, with
\nthe Chief of Staff for the crucial stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, but
\nfailed to participate in the event for inexplicable reasons.<\/p>\n
“When I told the Chief of Staff, where is my own Minister, he was also
\nshocked, because he knew that the Minister was at the airport with
\nthem.”<\/p>\n
Governor Wike said President Buhari has done the needful by appointing
\npeople to manage the affairs of NDDC for the interest of the region.
\nBut, regrettably, those appointed are politicians who have refused to
\nwork with PDP governors in the region. He accused the NDDC of pervasive
\ncorruption to the extent of claiming projects done by Rivers State
\ngovernment, as its own.<\/p>\n
“Rivers State Government went to court and challenged NDDC that you
\ncannot do what you are doing without consultation, without the approval
\nof the State Government.\u00a0 And the court agreed with the Rivers State
\ngovernment that you are right. NDDC you cannot do what you are doing.
\nYou are distorting the physical development of the state.”<\/p>\n
The governor lamented the continuous politicisation of security in the
\ncountry to the extent that this has prevented the take-off of operations
\nof the State Neighbourhood Safety Corps. He accused the Nigerian Army,
\nwhich ironically, has given tactical support to similar outfits in APC
\ncontrolled states like Lagos and Kogi, of preventing the State Safety
\nCorps to operate, despite legislative backing.<\/p>\n
He, also wondered why the Police Command would be contemplating
\ncommunity policing without the involvement of State governors.<\/p>\n
“You are talking about community policing and then State government is
\nnot involved. Who pays these officers or the men who are involved in
\ncommunity policing? You stay in Abuja, you take a decision, you recruit,
\nthen you come and tell the state government to come and pay, it does not
\nwork that way.<\/p>\n
“And what do you mean by community policing? You are talking about how
\nto provide security in various communities. Who is in charge of these
\ncommunities? And that is the problem we have in our own federal
\nstructure.\u00a0 You cannot say you operate a true federal system when you
\nhave only one Police command.”<\/p>\n
Governor Wike dismissed the claim that the State government was owing
\npersonnel of the Rivers State Transport Company. He explained that the
\nState does not have such employees on its database.<\/p>\n
He explained that before the advent of his administration, the State
\ntransport company had been operating as a franchise, without remitting
\nproceeds to the State government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n