Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians, saying it is unconstitutional to shift the power of securing the life and property of Nigerians to the state governors.
Wike stated this on Tuesday at the commissioning of the 21 kilometres Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road in Etche Local Government Area of the State.
The governor said President Buhari is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and cannot say that governors are in charge of security in their respective states.
Wike said such position suggests that the APC led federal government has lost grip on how to tackle insecurity.
The governor in statement by his Special Assistant on Media Kelvin Ebiri, said, “Mr President, you’re the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You appoint Inspector General of Police (IG), you appoint the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Director of Department of State Service (DSS), and other heads of security.
“Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr President be under me?
“It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must, also, be in charge of other things including security. Who signed Order 10? Is it the governors?
” It is not when things are going bad concerning security, and you say you’re not in charge, and it becomes governors’ responsibility.”
Wike urged the APC federal government to own up that it can no longer fulfil promises made to Nigerians, and also lead the country out of its present predicament.
According to the governor , when there is a failure, what makes leadership respectable is that such leader is able to accept its weakness publicly.
The governor pointed out that it was time Nigerians began to compare the performances of PDP and APC governors in office.
He said Mr President was short of calling names of those governors who run to Aso Rock when they are supposed to stay in their states to see the needs of their states and people.
“Mr President should have come out openly and said, my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work. On that, I support him.
“Thank God, Mr President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under PDP, you’ll never find me there.”
Meanwhile, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, who performed the commissioning of the 21 kilometers Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road, noted the excitement expressed on the faces of the locals who are directly impacted by the project.
He noted that even those in opposition in the state have become so weak to have anything more to say against Governor Wike who is not only performing, but has remained as a strong pillar of the PDP.
“I told him I’ll be here because he loves his people. Politics and democracy is not about enriching one or two persons within a community. The Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road is project that will outlive everybody in this place.
“The legacy you’re leaving behind, Rivers people will not forget you. They will defend you, they’ll protect you and they will stand by you always.”
“That is why you can walk tall. That is why you can jump into your car and go anywhere because you’ve shown them love. You’ve brought democracy to the people. PDP as a party is happy to have you. You’re one of the pillars of our great party.”
