I have no presidential ambition, says Wike

• Warns against sorting, cultism in Rivers varsity

Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday said he had no ambition to become president of the country. He promised to remain in Rivers State and develop it. 

He made the comment while commissioning the faculty of Management and Environmental Sciences which he built for the Rivers State University.
“I am not going to run for vice president or president. I am going to remain in this state to develop it to amiable height.”

Wike disclosed that the state government was owing N5billion in its foreign scholarship programme.He said his administration would not be forced to continue to sponsor students studying arts subjects abroad when those in the state- owned university had not been able to pay their fees.

According to the governor, about $1.5billion was paid last year for final year students studying medicine. “I cannot promise to fund overseas scholarship as it is not realistic at the moment due to the dwindling revenue of the state.

“If you make promise just to make people happy, how can you sustain it? We must tell ourselves the truth; before now, the state got N25billion monthly allocation but now, it is N9 billion. So we cannot use our future to play politics and promise what we cannot fulfill,” he said.

Wike said the state government could only sponsor those studying special subjects like medicine and engineering abroad, urging those studying arts subjects to return home and continue with their studies. 

The governor cautioned the lecturers and students against sorting and cultism. He warned that anyone caught in the act would be shown the way out. “From today henceforth, I don’t want to hear about sorting again, There are two ways to it: there are students who believe that without sorting they cannot pass, there are those who also believe they can read and pass. Whether it is the students or lecturers that cause sorting, let it stop.

“If the vice chancellor cannot take action, I will take action for him. If I hear the issue of sorting again, anyone caught would be removed.”The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Blessing Didia expressed joy over the completion of the structures. She commended Governor Wike’s effort in achieving the stride.