A tart reaction from Rivers Gov. Nyesom Wike has trailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s assenting the “padded and unimplementable 2022 budget” and rejecting the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Describing the president’s action as hypocritical, Wike criticized the speed with which he signed the budget in spite of the contentious insertions by the National Assembly in the budget and yet withheld assent for the people’s bill.
“It is curious and smacks of insensitivity to the plights of ordinary Nigerians,” the governor said.
“Look at Mr. President the other day while he was signing the budget, said the budget is unimplementable.
Persecondnews.com quotes Wike as speaking during a “New Year” visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, in his home town, Orba.
Disappointed by Buhari’s action, Wike also said: “But he went on and signed what is unimplementable. A budget that will determine the state of the economy, the progress of this nation, and the President knew this thing can’t work and he signed it.
“Then the Electoral Act, he said he will not sign it because direct primary was too expensive.
“What concerns me with party primaries? What concerns the poor people with party primaries? The one that concerns the poor man, business man, how to grow the economy, you signed it, knowing too well that it will not work.”
Wike, who described the All Progressives Party administration of Buhari as an unmitigated failure, implored Nigerians to speak out against “poor governance” in the country.
“You must join the rest of Nigerians. Nigeria is dying. Will you be here to see Nigeria die? Is it the kind of Nigeria that people like Nnamdi Azikiwe fought for?
“A Nigeria that when you wake up what you will hear is 20 people have died, 42 people have been kidnapped, 100 people have been abducted. Everyday death, death,” he said.
Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi said Wike has distinguished himself as “a bold and courageous leader”.
“I’m proud of your leadership,” he said, describing the visit as the signpost of the deepening relationship between the two states.
He thanked the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers for conferring a chieftaincy title on Wike.
“Last year, I was in Rivers State on two occasions, on the governor’s invitation to commission two major road projects.
“On each occasion, I left Rivers State with strong and positive impression of your commitment to project conception and quick delivery,” Ugwuanyi said.
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