The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has alleged that some persons outside the government are the ones behind the non-release of loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Abia and Benue state governments.
Wike disclosed this at the 58th birthday celebration of the governor of Abia State, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu in his Umuobiakwa country home in Obingwa local government area yesterday.
He stated that the motive was to punish Ikpeazu and the governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom for standing with him to demand the resignation of the national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
“I will tell you very soon, how money that was supposed to come to Abia State for my friend to use to develop Abia State was stopped recently by those who think they own this country, by those who think Ikpeazu did not support them. Because Ikpeazu supported me, they went and stopped Abia State from getting the money they are supposed to get to develop Ariara market.
“Okezie Ikpeazu is just governor of Abia State. He is not the owner of Abia State. He is just a symbol of Abia State. Anybody who fights Abia State, you’re not fighting Okezie, you are fighting the people of Abia,” he said.
He explained that the CBN loan was a facility made available to every State of the federation, adding that his administration had secured the loan already.
“I will tell all of you, how Abia and Benue states were denied their money that every State had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“I got it (CBN loan). And anybody who dares to stop my money, they know, I will not take it from them. You can see how people are wicked, they are not in office yet, but they are fighting people, stopping States money.
“Even as we have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, he has never stopped our money any day, never.”
Wike frowned on some Nigerians, who always carried on as if they were masters over others, and would stop at nothing in daring to treat people as slaves.
He said nobody could treat him as a slave because, as a Nigerian, he has equal citizen’s status like every other person.
“Let me tell all of you here, let me use the opportunity and Nigerians will hear. I never told him I will say this.
“Why would some people think some of us are not Nigerians? Some people think some of us are slaves. We would never be slaves. I will never be a slave to anybody.”
Wike, who restated his position on the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said his allies’ demand was for inclusivity, wherein every region is given a sense of belonging.
“So, I have told Ikpeazu to continue to be quiet and be a professor of proverbs. When we went to London, he told the person who called us to the meeting in London, you see this thing happening to PDP now is like that ship that wanted to capsize carrying Jonah.
“So, as the ship was going down, they went to Jonah, who said it’s me, it’s not the ship, and they took Jonah out of the ship. Jonah did not die.
“The ship stabilised. So, why not throw this Jonah out so that the ship can stabilize,” he added.
Wike, who was the special guest of honour at the event, was accompanied by the former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
