Nyesom Wike has cried out against what he said is a plot to forcefully unseat him as the Governor of Rivers State, by those he fingered as citizens of the state residing in Abuja.
The governor, in a statement, signed by Paulinus Nsirim Commissioner for Information and Communications, said person did not name, but whom he accused of attempting to declare State of Emergency in the State since 2015, failing, which they also did everything in their powers to ensure that the 2019 Governorship Election results were not announced, which equally failed, had not relented.
The statement, read: “As the build up for the 2023 elections and jostle for Presidential and Vice-Presidential tickets is gathering momentum, they want to use COVID-19 to create a crisis as if the State is at war with the Federal Government.
“They have decided to create unnecessary tension as if indigenes of Ahoada, Eleme and Port Harcourt are fighting with Northerners not to carry out their legitimate businesses.
“People forget history quickly. Since 2015, there have been farmers/herdsmen clashes in Nasarrawa, Plateau, Taraba, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kaduna, Yobe and Borno States.
“Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, States like Enugu, Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Kaduna States have been intercepting lorries carrying human beings instead of foodstuffs. This is the same thing that the Rivers State Government is doing to protect the State from COVID-19.
“Bandits have been killing innocent people in Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna States and indigenes of these States, no matter their political differences are working together to protect their States.
“But here in Rivers State, instead of supporting our efforts, these Abuja politicians are busy looking for a State of Emergency because they want to acquire power.
“We are alarmed at these hideous plots against our State. Rivers State has never fought a war with strangers or neighbours. Our fight against COVID-19 is to protect the lives of everyone living and doing business in the State.
“The Government is aware that some shameless politicians are playing politics with COVID-19. No wonder one of the respected chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had to expose their plan to use COVID-19 to launch into the politics of the State.
“After their clandestine meetings they have voted huge sums of money to entice and recruit gullible persons to carry out their plan.”
“We therefore place all patriotic Rivers State indigenes on alert to resist the devilish plans of these unpatriotic elements who connive with enemies of the State to cause confusion. As a State, we have always defeated these sadists and with God on our side, we shall overcome them.”