Wike blasts FG, APC at Chatham House

The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the federal government of deliberately abandoning projects in the state.

The governor said the federal government has failed to carry out any new development in Rivers state for the past two decades.




Speaking at the Chatham House in London on Monday, November 6, Wike said already existing projects in the state have also been abandoned by the federal government.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Lady set to marry man who turned her down 6-years ago

Wike said:"For instance, the federal government has not undertaken any new development project in the state for the last two decades. Even the existing ones, such as the Port Harcourt international airport, the two seaports and the East - West highway have severely degenerated without attention for years.”

The governor also said the at the former president Goodluck Jonathan's administration played major roles in developing Rivers state.

Wike also accused the immediate past governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, of deliberately stagnating development in Rivers through diversion of public funds.

Black Friday..6 Days To GO!!

He also called for international intervention to save Nigerian and its democracy from imminent collapse which may come from pressure from the federal government's failure to uphold the rule of law.

He said: “There is need for the international community to save the country and its democracy from imminent collapse by putting sufficient pressures on the Federal Government to uphold the rule of law, guarantee the integrity of the electoral system and do socio-economic justice to all segments of the Nigerian society."

“The fact cannot be disputed that states bear greater development burden than the Federal Government. However, under the flawed revenue allocation regime, the federal government alone retains 53% of national revenue and allocates only 22% to the entire 36 states of the federation.

READ ALSO: Emir Sanusi launches First islamic Insurance company

“Obviously, when 22% percent of national revenue is disaggregated among 36 states, what comes to each state is not more than 0.6 per cent on the average per annum, which by any stretch of imagination is incapable of funding serious developmental programmes for any state.

“The politicization and active involvement of key national institutions, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police in the rigging of the re-run elections in Rivers State was not only an affront to democracy, such acts constitute a serious invitation to chaos with destructive consequences of unknown dimensions,"Wike said.