Politics

Wike says, INEC can conduct election in Sambisa Forest, but not in Rivers State

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said  that  the Independent National Electoral Commission  ( INEC) can successfully  conduct elections  in Sambisa forest, but not in Rivers State.

He also described  as unfortunate  the claim by the leader of the  immediate  past failed administration  in the  state that there was no good road to the hometown  of a late APC Chieftain , when that  administration  spent eight years with huge  resources accruing to the state, but only embezzled development funds .

Speaking  during a state dinner for the delegates of the West African Architects Fair from 13 countries on Friday night, Wike  said  that the non conclusion of rerun elections  in the state is a fallout of the grand conspiracy  to  rig the polls in favour of an unpopular  party and it  is an indication  of the  negative plot against the state.

He said : “Because people want to illegally  seize power in Rivers State that is why you are hearing all this . All this plot is to take Rivers State .  Why do you  want to take  Rivers State when it is  not your own?

“Between March 19th and now, they planned to do elections  so that they can get the number of seats to impeach me and put their own  man. Since March , everyday they postpone the  elections .  From May to June to July, August then September.  They said October ending , still no election .  Now , they say  10th of December and when  we get to 10th of December , they may shift it to next year”.

The governor  noted  that it was ironic that INEC which conducted successful  elections  in the north east  and Sambisa  forest  cannot  conduct election  in Rivers State.

“Election took place in Borno, election took place in Yobe, election took place in Adamawa where you have deadly insurgency. They were able to conduct elections and votes were counted. They were able to conduct election  in Sambisa forest and votes were counted, but they cannot conduct election  here in Rivers State “, Governor Wike said.

The governor said the action of INEC and her collaborators have denied Rivers State  representation in the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

He said: “They continue  to postpone  the elections in Rivers State .  The Senate will  be  discussing the  Petroleum Industry Bill , they will be having  the constitutional  amendment and  the state that produces  the oil has no senator  and cannot be  part of the   discussion .  Nobody will defend  Rivers State in the senate.

“Nigerians  are not worried. Why? Rivers is a minority  state .”

The governor  maintained  that Rivers State  is  far more peaceful  than other major  states in the country, hence it has played host to series of international and national  conferences .

He said that once elections  approach, desperate opposition  politicians  and their media collaborators induce negative  propaganda  on insecurity.

He added that deliberate anti-development programmes have been slated against Rivers State, pointing out  that  the  state has successfully  overcome these  plots.

“We are the only state that applied for bail out, but they   did not give to us. We are the only state where they started deducting  our funds, when a loan facility has not been given to us”, the governor noted .

He called on the members of the Nigeria Institute of Architects  to partner with  Rivers State Government  for development  designs that will enhance the growth of the state.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Institute of Architects , Architect Tonye Braide assured Wike  that Nigerian Architects  will support his drive towards developing the state.

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