PDP governors, others defecting to APC lack conscience, Wike declares

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, declared that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and other political office holders, who are defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) lacked conscience and could not be trusted.

He said it was ridiculous and hypocritical of the APC to demonise the PDP and then still turn around to poach members of the party.

Wike made the assertion while unveiling the Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road and bridge at Woji town, insisting that those defecting from PDP after riding on its back to power have proved that they were treacherous.

“People who could not win the election for which the party went to court and got victory are now leaving the party. They have no conscience.”

He accused the APC-led government of blackmailing and coercing some PDP governors and members to join its fold, stressing that no amount of blackmail or intimidation would make him leave the PDP.

“Bring everything you have against me, I will not join you. Rivers State will not join you. Even if all the PDP governors defect to APC, Rivers State will continue to remain in the party,” he said.

The governor, however, criticised former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, for saying that the Federal Government paid the Rivers State government refunded N78 billion cash for federal projects done by the state government.

He explained that the Federal Government merely issued a promissory note, which the bank was going to discount, adding: “I didn’t know that Peterside does not understand the promissory note. The Federal Government did not back the N78 billion with cash.

“The Federal Government approved N78 billion, but not in cash. And so, the bank has to come for it to be discounted, because the government will pay them back in the next four years.

“And so, the Rivers State government only N52 billion from the N78 billion, but, in principle, N78 billion was approved, there was no cash to back it up.”

Wike said it was disingenuous for Peterside, who he defeated in the 2015 governorship election to deny his administration’s infrastructure projects.

Former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, who unveiled the Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road, commended Wike for running an all-inclusive government and executing projects that impact positively on Rivers people.

On his part, Special Adviser to the governor on Special Projects, George-Kelly D. Alabo, said the road would connect Woji-Aleto-Alesa to the East-West road and boost economic activities in the communities.