Nigerians Shouldn’t Give APC Second Chance in 2019

Described as a man of the people, the generalissimo of the Peoples Democratic Party and Mr. Project in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike in this interview with Ernest Chinwo matter-of-factly said 2019 is the right time to sweep the ruling All Progressive

Your two and a half years in office have been widely acknowledged to be exceptional in terms of development across various sectors in Rivers State. What should people expect in 2018?

They should not expect anything less. Rather they should expect improved performance on what we had in 2017. Just like when I made a broadcast to the state, I did say that after the New Year festival, there will be nothing to relax. We will continue to go to local governments and communities in the execution of our projects. Every local government will be carried along; every person will be carried along in this execution of projects. So we are not sitting to be carried away by what we have achieved in 2017. We think that it will be more robust, more focused in 2018.

Is there a specific area you will concentrate on?

Of course; roads are very key. You cannot talk about the economy of a state when the road network is not in good shape. We also talk about education; trying to improve the quality of education of our children. You also talk about health. These are three key areas we will try to focus on in this 2018. We’ll also pay attention to agriculture. In this case, we are not going into agriculture as businessmen. We are providing the necessary infrastructure to enable those who want to invest in agriculture to come down and also allow our people to be part owners of the investment.

Rivers State has been in the eye of national politics with the APC’s determination to wrest the state from the PDP come 2019. What are you going to do to ensure that the state remains in the control of your party?

If democracy is all about the people, if democracy is all about dividends, then the APC has no opportunity here in Rivers State. What will make the people vote for them? What projects have they attracted from the Federal Government? Not even a single one. So, why will people leave a party that is doing well for them to go to a party that in spite of these years, in spite of the huge resources they contributed to the emergence of the party at the national level, yet they cannot say this is what the state has achieved. So, it is impossible, even though we know their strategy has been to use security to intimidate the people but I think the people have the willpower to resist such strategy.

Are you not bothered about the government using security agencies to wrest power from the PDP in Rivers?

Like I have said, I am aware that, because they have no hope, their entire plot has been based on how to use SARS to manipulate the election. But one thing I can tell you is that it will not be easy. And that is why we always shout to let the public will know. Not that we are afraid that we are talking about the consequences of that. When the people are resisting, what happens? That is violence. And they will turn around tomorrow to say there is violence in Rivers State when they the ones instigating that violence. Allow the people’s will; allow them to choose who will represent them. If you don’t do that and you want to intimidate them, the people will resist so, it will not be easy.

I don’t know which state mismanaged its own Paris Club refund. You see, a lot of people make accusations without facts to back them. So, I will not be in a position to say any state mismanaged its funds. First of all, Paris Club refund is my state’s money. I am the governor of the state and I told the people what I will do with their money if I am voted into power. Now, the problem in Rivers State may not be the same in another state. So, if in my state I have been able to pay salaries, you do not expect me to use Paris Club money not to develop the state in terms of infrastructure. As I speak to you now, I have not touched the last tranche of the Paris Club money because I felt that having paid salaries up to December, this money will be used for projects execution. So every state has its own strategy and what it intends to use its funds for. So, it will not be fair for people to say some states mismanaged their funds. I do not think so. It is just that some people may not have information and when that is the case, it is for them to ask and not to make general statements that some state are mismanaging Paris Club refunds.

Let’s assume somebody owed salaries for one year and is owing about N30 billion and you give him the Paris Club refund of about N10 billion. You cannot say he should use the entire N10 billion to pay salaries. He removes about N7 billion to start paying salaries and use the other N3 billion for other things. If you pay salaries alone and there no roads to pass, what happens? So, it will not be fair to say because he did not commit the entire N10 billion into paying salaries he mismanaged the fund because payment of salaries is not the only problem you have in the state. So, you need to balance. You will not neglect other sectors.

What is your assessment of the APC-led Federal Government?

Frankly speaking, Nigerians are Disappointed. Frankly speaking, I will say that from day one, I knew that the APC was not prepared to take over the reins of government. APC was formed just to make sure (President Goodluck) Jonathan leaves