President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu has insisted that he won’t refund Rivers State, Nyesom Wike monies expended on construction of flyovers on federal roads in the state.
He dared his critics on social media to continue saying whatever they like on various online platforms, saying it is a free speech society.
Tinubu said his reason for telling the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that he would not refund the cost of the flyovers he constructed in Rivers was because he could not make any commitment until he was sworn in as the President.
Tinubu, during a banquet in his honour on Wednesday night revisited what he called the banter with Wike, noting that it has generated a lot of reactions on social media.
The former Lagos State Governor said there is no name he has not been called on social media, stating that he does not respond to social media criticisms.
His words: “I exchanged a banter with Gov Wike, if you take me seriously, (it’s left to you). The truth is, I’m a President-elect. I have no signature for expenditure until sworn in. How can I make a commitment? I cannot sign a dime of Nigeria money or expenditure now. There can only be one president at a time.
“If you ask me to go and commit to things that are mere expectations and cannot be fulfilled, I believe in fulfilling promises, that’s why I’m here. And we have to do it for Nigeria. I thank you all for the support you gave me during the election, but I’m still on a countdown.
“If I sign anything for you now and commit to it, I can’t pay. For that flyover, how can I pay, personal? That’s not realistic.
“I hope that clears the social media fears. I don’t respond to (social media talks). There is no name they’ve not called me on (social media). It’s a free speech society and around the world.”
Tinubu while commissioning the Rumuola-Rumuokwuta flyover promised to work evenly for the country without marginalising any part in areas of development.
The president-elect who was on a two-day visit to the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Nyesom Wike administration.
“I will not marginalise any region, but will leave legacy projects across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” he said
Tinubu praised Governor Wike for the development strides in Rivers State, particularly for the 12 flyovers constructed across the capital city, saying posterity would kindly remember him.
He said with his accomplishments in the state, Nigeria would need the outgoing Rivers governor in higher capacities.
On the political front, Tinubu thanked Wike and the people of Rivers State for their support for him.
He said he was in the state in line with the promise he made during the campaigns in Rivers, saying “if you make a promise, you keep it.
“I will never forget the pivotal role the great and wonderful people of this state played in my victorious campaign to become the next president of this country. You have my eternal gratitude.
“In His Excellency, Governor Wike, I see a man of principle. He took a principled stand that the presidency should be retuned to the South; and he had the courage to stand by his convictions, not minding whose ox was gored.
“He is, indeed, a man of great integrity. He did not choose to serve his own interests, rather, the interests of the nation and the people of Rivers State. I thank him for his selfless leadership,” he added.
