Rivers APC leaders gain recognition by insulting me —Wike

RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that claimed that Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC)  leaders only gain recognition from the Federal Government when they rain insults on him.

He said apart from insulting him on the pages of newspapers and the electronic media, the APC leaders had no political value in the state.

He spoke on Saturday when he received hundreds of APC defectors from Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

He said: “The only way they get recognition from the Federal Government is by insulting Wike. Apart from that, they are  finished politically.

“They must tell Rivers people what they have attracted to the state. After two and half  years, they are unable to attract any project.”

He also said the Director General of NIMASA and Minister of Transportation had nothing to show to Rivers people except their capacity to insult him.

Noting that his administration had used projects to silence critics, he pointed out that  more projects would continue in 2018.

He said with the level of project delivery in Rivers, it would be difficult for anyone to rig elections  in the state.

“If you attempt to rig elections here, then you rig your life. You can’t rig election and go free. It is not possible.

“Instead of using resources to execute projects, they are keeping  the money  to bribe military and police for rigging,” he said.

Wike wondered why the APC-led Federal Government was unable to organise a peaceful and credible election, and announced  that the state would hold its local government election in 2018.

On the defection, he commended the APC defectors and assured them that they would enjoy equal opportunities with existing PDP members.

Rivers PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, welcomed the defectors, noting that they would contribute  to more victories of the PDP in the state.

Also speaking, Senator Adewari Pepple said the defection was due to the outstanding performance of Governor Wike.

Responding, chairman of the APC caucus in Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area, Arthur Jaja, said the qualities of Governor Wike convinced them on the  need to defect.

He said their defection signalled the death of APC in the  Local Government Area.

Also speaking, president, Vanguard of Opobo Nation (VON), said the defection marked a new dawn in the politics of the area.