GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has lashed out at his Zamfara State counterpart, Bello Matawalle, for defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike said unlike Matawalle he will never betray his people by switching political parties.
The governor stated this during the inauguration of reconstructed Rumuigbo, Chief Johnson Amadi, Igbodo, Finima, Rumuopareli, Bauchi, Ohia and Isaac Boro streets in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt last night.
“People must have respect for themselves. There are things I cannot do for the sake of my children,” he said.
“In 2019, Matawalle said I will never leave PDP. I will never disappoint PDP. If I disappoint PDP, I will never have peace in my life. Today, what has happened? Is everything politics? It is not true. Everything cannot be politics. Your credibility, your integrity is important in life. I will never betray my people.”
The governor said only spineless governors and politicians will succumb to threats and blackmail of the ruling APC to join the party or risk persecution.
According to him, only governors who cannot perform decamp to APC, primarily to seek protection from a party that is allegedly fighting corruption.
“A governor invited Mr President (Muhammadu Buhari) to flag off a superhighway of 260 km, and up till now, Mr President has not asked the governor about the highway,” he said.
Governor Wike explained his administration had since 2015 made a conscientious effort to transform the landscape of Rivers State and restore the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the security situation in the state, Wike said the curfew imposed in the wake of attacks on security formation would only be relaxed when he received a security brief from the State Security Council.
“I will not lift the curfew until the security people tell me it is time to call off the curfew. Only criminals complain against the curfew. I prefer to protect life and property.”
