The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has cleared the air on the reason for the visit of 4 South-South PDP governors to President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that it has nothing to do with politics.
Gov. Wike told journalists at the Government House, Port Harcourt that the governors were at the Presidential Villa to discuss development of the Niger Delta Region.
He stressed the fact that he has no personal problem with President Muhammadu Buhari. He also said he is interested in the development of the Niger Delta region and they only defer on Political Ideology.
“It’s for the benefit of the people of the South-South. It has nothing to do with politics. Is there any personal problem between the president and my humble self? No. We tend to mix up issues. Mr. President is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is not the president of the All Progressive Congress.
“Mr. President was coming to Port Harcourt to commission a project which will enhance and improve the economy of the state. Based on the mere fact that I belong to the opposition party, I shouldn’t go and receive Mr. President”?
“First of all, he is the symbol of the country, that office he occupies, you must give him that respect. It doesn’t matter if we belong to different parties. When it comes to politics, I say Mr. President, no your party is not doing well but when it concerns governance, you must give Mr. President that respect”, governor Wike stated.
The governors who visited the presidnet are, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Udom Emmanuel, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Rivers State’s Nyesom Wike.
The Rivers State governor also said his decision to run for a second term in office is to consolidate on the achievement of his government so far. He however noted that he is aware of a plot by INEC to work against his re-election bid and maintained that he is not afraid as it will be difficult for INEC because he is also prepared.
Commenting on the minimum wage issue, Gov. Wike said the minimum wage review of the country can only be sustained and effective when the revenue sharing formula of the country is reviewed. He proposed that more should be given to the states.
He said , ” I’m not going to be against any review of workers wages, no I will not do that. Talking about minimum wage, reviewing the minimum wage, I have no problems but we also have to review the revenue sharing formula. Assuming Zamfara gets 3 billion and then their salary wage bill is 4 billion, how do you want them to survive?
“More of the money should be removed from the Federal Government down to the state that bear the burden of the people. So, if we are increasing minimum wage today and we are still leaving the revenue formula that way it is, then we are not been fair”.
