Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State, has alleged that some persons have surreptitiously stopped the release of loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Abia and Benue states.
According to the Rivers State governor, the intention of the move was was to punish Okezie Ikpeazu and Samuel, governors of Abia and Benue, respectively, for standing with him to demand the resignation of the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu.
Wike spoke at the 58th birthday celebration of Ikpeazu in his country home of Umuobiakwa community in Obingwa Local Government Area on Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement issued by Media aide to Wike, Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Wike said, “I will tell you very soon, how money that was supposed to come to Abia State for my friend to use to develop Abia State was stopped recently by those who think they own this country, by those who think Ikpeazu did not support them.
“Because Ikpeazu supported me, they went and stopped Abia state from getting the money they are supposed to get to develop Ariara market.
“Okezie Ikpeazu is just governor of Abia State. He is not the owner of Abia State He is just a symbol of Abia State. Anybody who fights Abia State, you’re not fighting Okezie, you are fighting the people of Abia.”
Wike, who was the special guest of honour at the event, was accompanied by former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.
Wike explained that the CBN loan was a facility that is made available to every state of the federation, pointing out that Rivers State Government had accessed and secured the loan already.
“I will tell all of you, how Abia and Benue States were denied of their money that every state had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“I got it (CBN loan). And anybody who dare to stop my money, they know, I will not take it from them. You can see how people are wicked, they are not in office yet, but they are fighting people, stopping states money.
“Even as we have criticized President Muhammadu Buhari, he has never stopped our money any day, never.”
He added, “Let me tell all of you here, let me use the opportunity and Nigerians will hear. I never told him I will say this.
“Why would some people think some of us are not Nigerians, some people think some of us are slaves. We would never be slaves. I will never be a slave to anybody.”
Wike, who restated his position on the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, said his allies demand was for inclusivity, wherein every region is given a sense of belonging.
“So, I have told Ikpeazu to continue to be quiet and be a professor of proverbs. When we went to London, he told the person who called us to the meeting in London, you see this thing happening to PDP now is like that ship that wanted to capsize carrying Jonah.
“So, as the ship was going down, they went to Jonah, who said it’s me, it’s not the ship, and they took Jonah out of the ship. Jonah did not die.
“The ship stabilized. So, why not throw this Jonah out so that the ship can stabilize.”
