Afrigather Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, saying he doesn’t fill such a management place to talk on behalf of the state.
Dr Sekibo is the Director Basic of the Peoples Democratic Get together Presidential Marketing campaign Council in Rivers State.
The PUNCH stories that Sekibo, former governor of the state (now derecognised), Sir Celestine Omehia; former Deputy Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara; and the previous senator who represented the Rivers South-East district, Senator Lee Maeba, had fallen out with Wike after they pitched their tent with the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2023 ballot.
Governor Wike described Dr Sekibo as a self-seeking politician who was unable to deliver any form of democratic dividend to the state throughout his tenure as minister, in addition to to his dwelling city of Okrika within the state’s Okrika native authorities space.
Wike spoke throughout the inauguration of 319 Ward and 32 Constituency Liaison Officers in Authorities Home, Port Harcourt, on Monday.
This was contained in an announcement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, Particular Assistant on Media to Governor Wike and made out there to journalists.
The assertion quoted Wike as saying, “I watched a video when one Dr Abiye Sekibo, whereas he was addressing individuals in his home yesterday (Sunday), stated he’s the director of Atiku’s Supporters in Rivers.
“I’ve no drawback with that. However he can’t communicate on behalf of Rivers State.
“In that video, he stated that Rivers State has been having a detailed relationship with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and that Rivers State has at all times benefited from Atiku Abubakar.
“I need to appropriate one impression; Dr Abiye Sekibo has a private relationship with Alhaji Atiku, not Rivers State.
“Dr Abiye Sekibo was Minister of Transport when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the Vice President of Nigeria. Are you able to individuals point out one challenge in Okrika, I don’t even need to speak about Rivers State, in Ogu/Bolo, one challenge that he introduced right down to Rivers State. Is there any?”
The Rivers State governor stated management was not about private aggrandisement however serving the individuals, and defending their pursuits whereas constructing others up as competent successors.
Governor Wike acknowledged that individuals like Dr Sekibo quantity amongst those that are by no means glad with the fortunes they’ve loved in life. In any other case, he ought to have been quiet within the public sphere about his failure in management.
Wike additionally talked about the variety of initiatives his administration awarded that had been dealt with by Dr Sekibo, which as we speak, in Sekibo’s estimation, has turn into one thing flawed.
The governor disclosed that the N2.1bn Okrika sand-filling challenge and the N2bn Okochiri inside highway, for which the sums of N1.3bn and N1.6bn have been paid respectively, had been awarded to Dr Sekibo, together with the N1.4bn contract for the Okujaku Road, Danjuma Drive in Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt.
He urged the Constituency and Ward Liaison Officers to do their work in getting stories on the sentiments and expectations of the individuals about his administration’s efficiency.
Governor Wike declared that the PDP governorship candidate, all of the Home of Representatives, the Senate and the State Home of Meeting will win within the 2023 basic elections, saying the state was but to find out what to do in regards to the presidential election.
“PDP will win our state. I’m not hiding it so far as the governorship, Home of Reps, Senate, and State Meeting is anxious. The opposite one we have now not determined till the correct factor is finished,” Wike famous.
When contacted, Dr Sekibo answered his name on the first dial by considered one of our correspondents however declined to talk on the allegations levelled in opposition to him by the governor.
The previous Transport Minister merely stated, “I’ve no response.”
The spokesperson of the PDP Presidential marketing campaign council in Rivers State, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa additionally declined remark.
