By Simeon Nwakaudu
It was with amusement that I read the publication by the Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe where he rehashed outgoing governor Rotimi Amaechi’s desperate tune on the inauguration of a new government in Rivers State. It was simply Amaechi speaking through another man’s voice.
His article, “11 reasons why Nyesom Wike should not be sworn in as governor on May 29” and published by APC’S official news site is one of the last ditch efforts of outgoing governor Rotimi Amaechi to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
All the issues raised by the Lagos State APC publicity seccretary on the forthcoming inauguration of Rivers State Governor-Elect are part of the schemes of the defeated APC to use propaganda and outright falsehood to create an atmosphere of confusion in the state. Unfortunately for the APC and their media associates, the swearing-in of Barrister Wike as Governor of Rivers State will hold on May 29.
The governorship election in Rivers State on April 11 was free, fair and credible. Barrister Wike emerged victorious as the people of Rivers State were tired of APC’S reign of impunity, corruption, non performance and insecurity. A petition written by Rivers State APC challenging the conduct of the election was duly investigated by three INEC National Commissioners and found to be false and frivolous. The INEC National Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega made the finding public during a meeting with civil society groups.
In case Mr Joe Igbokwe is not aware, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has directed the Bayelsa State Chief Judge to conduct the constitutional exercise of swearing-in Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike ( CON ) as the governor of Rivers State on May 29.
That constitutional exercise will hold despite all the sponsored illegal actions of outgoing governor Rotimi Amaechi and the APC. Joe Igbokwe ‘s false campaign cannot change the reality on ground.
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Joe Igbokwe’ s call on the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to stop the swearing-in of Barrister Wike only confirms that Amaechi and the APC are determined to go to any illegal extent to promote crisis in Rivers State. The failed outgoing governor had in the last few days moved from one court to the other seeking for a black market injunction to stop the inauguration to no avail. He failed at every point. Now, he has resorted to the use of propaganda merchants like Igbokwe and other media associates to promote this ungodly agenda. But, they will fail once again.
Igbokwe and the APC support Amaechi’s destruction of the judiciary in Rivers State which is responsible for the situation that the state has found itself. The State has no legislative arm and Amaechi is owing workers several months of salaries despite receiving over N3 trillion as revenue under his leadership.
For a party that claims to be democratic, it is sad that the Lagos State APC would even contemplate the suggestion that an administrator be appointed for Rivers State. This proves the assertion by the INEC National Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega during his interaction with civil society groups that those calling for the cancellation of the April 11 Governorship election in Rivers State are the same people who never wanted the election to hold.
This has always been the plan of the APC. To stop the April 11 Governorship election in Rivers State, so that the can capture the state post May 29. Needless to say that the plot failed as the people of Rivers State remained peaceful despite the provocations of Amaechi as he prowled the streets of Rivers State on April 11 to instigate violence. If anyone needs to be prosecuted, it is Amaechi who was at the centre of all violent acts on Election Day.
Before I conclude this piece, it is imperative that I mention the exploits of Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON) as Minister of State for Education and the Supervising Minister of Education. Under his leadership, the Federal Government constructed 124 Almajiri schools, 72 Electronic Libraries for Unity Schools, distributed over 60million free textbooks to public schools, constructed 27 girl child schools, retrained and trained over 1 million teachers, attracted over N12billion grants for research for universities, worked for the establishment of 12 new Federal Universities and 4 new Federal Polytechnics. The records set by Barrister Wike at the Federal Ministry of Education are legendary and verifiable. Never in the recent history had the nation witnessed such development in the education sector. Wike is a known performer.
At the risk of sounding immodest, Barrister Wike as Local Government Council Chairman was the best, as chief of Staff to the Rivers State Government, his record was outstanding and as a politician, he is a high class tactician with grassroots connection that cannot be matched by any APC member in Rivers State. No wonder, they are recruiting political mercenaries like Joe Igbokwe to assist them.
This is all about Rivers State. The people of the State are working towards creating a new Rivers State where everyone who lives in it will benefit from quality leadership. They have reposed their confidence in Barrister Wike to lead the recreation of the state. No amount of orchestrated propaganda by the likes of Igbokwe and other APC hired media agents will work.
Wike will be sworn in as the governor of Rivers State on May 29. He won the governorship election in the state as conducted by INEC. No amount of falsehood targeted at the electoral outcome will change this fact. The people of Rivers State have spoken and their decision cannot be changed by a few hired media propagandists.
Joe Igbokwe’ s 11 reasons are cooked up and unconstitutional. Nigerians should disregard this campaign of calumny as they have always done. It is sad that a man who pretends to be a democrat, will resort to undemocratic and unreasonable suggestions just to satisfy his benefactor, Rotimi Amaechi who has ruined Rivers State. Very sad.
*Simeon Nwakaudu is Special Assistant (Media) to Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike
