The Chief of Staff to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Emeka Woke has reacted to claims by a former Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Lee Ledogo Maeba that he (Woke) is after his life.
Wazobia Politics gathered that Senator Maeba, had on Saturday in an interview granted to Punch Newspapers alleged that a meeting was held at the Government House, Port Harcourt to clampdown on him and others.
But Woke in a swift reaction said the former lawmaker’s allegation were baseless and far from the truth.
Woke in a statement released by his media office on Sunday and sent to Wazobia Politics said it was not in the DNA of the Governor Wike’s administration to clampdown on or kill opposition.
“On my way here, I read from Punch newspaper, one man that is unable to come home, called Ledogo, saying he will not come home again to campaign for PDP presidential candidate. He said the reason that he will not come was because I held a meeting in Government House that anything he comes to Rivers State, he should be killed.
“My brothers, such thing did not happen and it will not happen. Any person that cannot come to Rivers State should look for a better excuse and not killing excuse,” the CoS was quoted as saying.
Woke further added: “This government, we don’t kill anybody. We have never and will never kill anybody. Please if you don’t have strength, tell your people that you don’t have strength.”
The CoS also berated the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and former Commissioner of Works during the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration, Dakuku Peterside over claims that Governor Wike neglected the people of Opobo.
“Before he became commissioner, the former governor of the State, Dr. Peter Odili, had initiated this laudable project, the Unity Road to run from Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo and then he stopped in 2007.
“From October 2007, when your son (Dakuku) became Commissioner for Works until May, 2011, four good years, he did not add one meter to the road.”
“The same man said Wike did not do anything for Opobo people. Yes, let us agree, because the lawyers will say, assuming though not conceding that Wike did not do anything. From that time in 1999 when he (Dakuku) started politics until Wike became governor, Dakuku was not able to drive a car to Opobo. Even if Wike has not done anything, the road he gave to Opobo is it not something.”
Woke, said it was unbelievable that Dakuku, who got a contract for Opobo shore protection and embezzled funds, could still have the audacity to accuse the Wike’s administration that has linked the entire Opobo/Nkoro island to the rest of the State by road, of doing nothing for the council.
“This is not campaign, but at campaign time, we will inform you that he (Dakuku) was given contract. The only thing that he was asked to do for his people, shore protection, he embezzled the money and that contract was not executed. So, when the time comes, we will tell Opobo who is their real son, because I don’t believe that am indigene of Opobo will hate Opobo so much.”
He noted that all Dakuku said during a gathering of few APC members in Opobo last week, was his usual tantrum against governor Wike, in order to gain relevance in the political space.
“You know, in Rivers State, any body in opposition that is aspiring to get any position, no matter how little that aspiration is, the only qualification for you to aspire is to come out and abuse Wike. When you come and abuse Wike and say Wike didn’t do this, Wike did not do that, then you can be considered for a little position. And so, that is just what Dakuku did.
“If you adopt one strategy to achieve something and it doesn’t work, the proper thing to do is to change strategy. Dakuku needs to change his strategy, since they no longer work.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, Siminalaye Fubara, in his remarks lauded members of GDI for sensitising Rivers people in the 23 Local Government Areas, on the need to collect their PVC, which is their power to elect the rightful leadership during the 2023 general elections.
Fubara, who hails from Opobo, said he is confident that his kinsmen will overwhelmingly support his governorship ambition.
“A non -indigene is the one who will come here and struggle, abuse people. I’m an indigene, a free born. You can trace my father’s house. So, do I need to struggle to get your support? So, I will end by saying you know what to do.”
The event was graced by dignitaries across the state, including the Chairman of Rivers PDP, and Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Ambassador Desmond Akawor and his Executive Council, Chairmen of LGAs, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers to the State governor as well as members of the GDI, led by its President-General, Mr. Bright Amaewhule, amongst others.
