Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Aspirant and Former Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has declared that his conflict with the outgoing governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi started after he advised the governor to desist from insulting President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.
The PDP governorship aspirant who spoke at a Thanksgiving service organised in his honour by the Rumuepirikom community of Obio/Akpor on Sunday stated that he will never stand by and watch Amaechi disrespect the President, because it is against the culture of the people.
He said: ” Today, Amaechi is insulting me, simply because I asked him to stop insulting Mr President. Since then, Amaechi has never stopped to insult me. It was in this church that he publicly addressed me as a man of character because I refused to sell him out while he was hiding in Ghana. They made all manner of offers to me, but I stood by Amaechi and delivered the judgment he celebrated yesterday.
“I will never stand by and allow Amaechi insult President Jonathan who has delivered to Rivers State , the people of South South and Nigeria.”
The former Minister said that contrary to Amaechi’s claims, President Jonathan has invested in the development of Rivers State, especially in the education sector.
He said: “The President gave every support that was required for me to succeed as a Minister who supervised basic education and at a point the supervising Minister of Education.
As a Minister of State for Education, I ensured that amenities and facilities were attracted to Rivers State. It was during this period that I attracted the faculty of law to University of Port Harcourt. I also attracted the Faculty of Social Science building at the University of Port Harcourt.
“The State University of Education got direct special intervention of N500million for the development of infrastructure. This was done after the Vice Chancellor approached me and I raised a memorandum, which was approved by the President.
“The President also approved N500million for the State Polytechnic in Bori. The funds are being used. Go to the state polytechnic and see the project being executed. The Rector approached me and I initiated the memorandum for the development of the structure.”
He said that Another direct intervention was the development of a Teaching Laboratory in the Federal College of Education, Technical in Omoku at the cost of N250million.
Speaking further Barrister Wike said: “In Rivers State, President Jonathan approved the upgrading of basic education schools in he state. 21 schools have received facelift in Rivers State to ensure better education for Rivers State. One of the schools is located in Ubima Cimmunity School in the governor’s village.”
The Minister listed all the schools scattered across all the three senatorial districts of the state where the Federal Government directly intervened, pointing out that lying against the President would come to nought because the truth will always come to light.
He added that several Rivers State indigenes have benefitted Federal scholarship and series of employment under President Goodluck Jonathan.
On the 2015 governorship election: “It will not be easy, but I have accepted to run. God willing, we shall emerge victorious at the end of the day. Nobody has the capacity to stop this movement of the people.
“Simply because some people tried to assassinate me and failed, they think that I belong to a secret society. That is completely untrue. I schooled at University of Port Harcourt and Rivers State Univesity, check the records, I have never belonged to a secret society.”
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant (Media) to the PDP Governorship Aspirant, Rivers State.
