Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has accused the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Tonye Cole and Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Magnus Abe of intentionally demarketing Rivers State for their inordinate ambition.
He noted that recent utterances by Cole and Abe, who lost out in the 2023 governorship election in the State smack of sheer mischief and disgruntlement.
Governor Wike criticised the duo while speaking as special guest at the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) skill acquisition graduation and empowerment ceremony in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Wednesday.
Represented by the Chief Staff Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Emeka Woke, the governor stated that since Cole and Abe lost the 2023 governorship election, they have been demarketing Rivers State with the intent to gain federal appointment in the next political dispensation.
“I want to say that the security agencies that operate in Rivers state are doing their best in robust collaboration with Rivers State government, and we have been able to reduce the crime index in Rivers State to its barest minimum. There is no society in the world that you won’t see skirmish or crime, but when it happens in Rivers State those who contested election and were defeated roundly, are trying to use the opportunity to create impression as if Rivers State is not safe.
“I cannot imagine the governorship candidate of APC (Tonye Cole), who was defeated and failed election, in trying to show empathy for a senior citizen who was recently kidnapped, would insinuate that the State is not safe that was why somebody was kidnapped.
“And the SDP governorship candidate (Senator Magnus Abe) will be on national television to justify why tribunal in Rivers State should relocate because the State is not safe. It is not true. What they are doing is that they are seeking for political appointment at the centre.”
The governor said the erroneous impression being created by Cole and Abe is not true. He has therefore, urged the public to ignore the obnoxious antics of these failed and disgruntled politicians.
Governor Wike commended the national president of POWA and wife of the Inspector General of Police, Hajiya Hajara Usman Alkali Baba for initiating the skill acquisition programme geared at empowering women to reduce poverty and create employment in society.
“Let me say that as a government we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with security agencies that are in operation in Rivers State, not only the Police Command, because we believe there cannot be any meaningful development in any society if there is no peace and security.
“And so as a responsible government, we have tried in spite of our limited resources to provide enabling environment to enable security agencies that are operating in our State to function, by provision of equipment and other logistics that are required for effective and efficient performance of security duties in Rivers State.
“It is on this note when we were approached as a government by the wife of the IGP to support this programme last year we did not hesitate to give our support. So, we are happy as a government to see that that little seed we sowed last year has now come up with this result.”
A total of 85 women graduated from the first batch of POWA’s skill acquisition programme.
Present at the graduation ceremony was the national president of POWA and wife of the Inspector General of Police, Hajiya Hajara Usman Alkali Baba; the wife of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Egan Adat Okon-Effiong and several other dignitaries.
Kelvin Ebiri
Special Assistant (Media) to Rivers State Governor
April 26, 2023
