Rivers State Governor-Elect, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he will not fight the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari, saying that his focus will be on cooperating with the Federal Government to attract benefits to the state.
Barrister Wike noted that the overwhelming mandate given to him by the people of Rivers State was not for him to fight President Muhammadu Buhari, but to work for the greater good of Rivers State.
Speaking during a pre-inauguration lecture titled: “Democracy and good governance : Towards a New Rivers State “, Barrister Wike said : “I will not fight President Muhammadu Buhari. I will cooperate with his administration to attract benefits to Rivers State.
“The people of Rivers State did not overwhelmingly elect me to fight the administration, but to work for the greater good of out people. In cooperating with Buhari for development reasons, I will always bear in mind the fact that I am a member of the PDP “.
The governor-elect added that all his actions in office will be geared towards the development of Rivers State and her people.
He stated that the courts which has been shut for close to one year by the administration of the state will be opened next Monday, while he declare the proclamation of the next House of Assembly in the State Assembly Complex.
He assured Rivers people that he will run a listening administration that will be centred on the needs of the people. Barrister Wike noted that he will not personalise governance as the journey to revive the ailing state will involve all stakeholders.
He reiterated that the illegal local government elections conducted by outgoing administration of Rotimi Amaechi will not stand as the court made specific order that it should not hold.
On massive corruption in the state, Barrister Wike said: “Rivers State stinks with unbridled corruption.”
While maintaining that he will probe the outgoing administration, he assured the people that his administration will be transparent, accountable and God fearing.
Relatively, former Rivers State Governor, Sir Peter Odili declared that he has confidence that Barrister Wike will perform and return happiness to the people of the state.
Lead Speaker, Professor Kimse Okoko equally urged the incoming administration to work for the greater good of Rivers people and strengthen all democratic institutions.
A panelist, Dr Tam George stated that the outgoing administration in the state ran on fiction and propaganda with nothing on ground to show for the N3trillion that accrued to the state. He advised the incoming administration not to tow the line of the Amaechi administration.
The Public Lecture was attended by Former Governors of Rivers State, traditional rulers, captains of industries, youth and women groups.
