Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that his administration will recover the funds discovered at an Ikoyi residence despite the antics of the Federal Government.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Programme, Wike reiterated that the money stashed at the Ikoyi residence belongs to the people of Rivers State.
He said the state team of lawyers are already working to ensure that Rivers State gets back her funds which he claims are proceeds from the sale of the assets of the state.

Recall that the Governor had at a press conference explained that the Ikoyi funds were proceeds from the sale of the assets of the state government, by the immediate past Amaechi administration.

“We will follow due process of the law to get back Rivers State money found at the Ikoyi residence. This money belongs to the Rivers State people. We have conducted out checks.

“We will stun Nigeria with this matter. We will come out with our evidence at the appropriate time”.

The governor said that the state government will not reveal its strategies because of the games being played by the APC Federal Government.

He said that the politicization of the entire issue indicate that the Federal Government has something to hide.

On developments in the Niger Delta, Governor Wike stated that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is working at cross purposes with the region.

He said that the NDDC politicises the process of its execution of projects which are usually abandoned. He added that the agency deliberately refuses to liaise with the states before projects are initiated.

On the PDP crisis, Governor Wike said that he is supporting Makarfi and that he will wait for the Supreme Court to state its position. The governor declared that it is very much unlikely that he will work with Ali Modu Sheriff.

He said: “It is very much unlikely that I will work with Ali Modu Sheriff. It is not possible for me to stay with Sheriff .”

The governor explained that Sheriff has no love for the PDP as he has continued to work against the party, in alliance with the APC. The governor alleged that in Benue and Jigawa States APC Government are frustrating the PDP in upcoming Local Government elections.

On developments in Rivers State, the governor said that his administration has entrenched statewide execution of projects. He said projects have been initiated and executed in 22 out of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. Governor Wike said that Omuma, the only local government area, yet to have a project, now has a major road contract awarded in the area.

He said that his administration is developing Rivers State as a tourism destination of the country. He said the construction of the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park is a deliberate action to promote tourism.

The governor regretted that Rivers State and other Niger Delta states are losing revenue because oil companies pay their taxes in Lagos, while they operate in the region.

On Rivers at 50, he said that the state has made tremendous progress. He said that the state appreciates God for being together despite the challenges.