Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike says the inability of the media to scrutinise those in authority is partly responsible for lack of accountablity by those in office.
According to him, since the APC administration assumed office in 2015, religious intolerance and ethnic division have deepened. And worst still, is the politicisation of security.
Governor Wike said despite the glaring insecurity, religious and ethnic division in the country, the officials of the federal government have continue to live in denial that Nigeria is now more united and secure than ever.
The Rivers State governor maintained that whomever becomes President in 2023 will spend his entire reign trying to resolve the various socio-economic crisis caused by the present administration.
The Governor spoke in Port Harcourt on Wednesday during the official presentation of letter of nomination to him for the “ 2020 Extra Ordinary Personality of the Year Award” by the management of Silverbird Group .
Governor Wike in a statement by his Media Assistant, Kelvin Ebiri expressed his appreciation on behalf of the government and people of the State to the management of Silverbird for the recognition.
But, maintained that it was disturbing that the Nigerian Media has failed in its responsibility to hold the present administration accountable for failure to provide much desired good governance.
“The problem in Nigeria which I have always said is that the press, the media is part of our headache. The media have lost their voice. I remember when Goodluck Jonathan was the President, it was as if the media want to pull down the whole of Nigeria.”
Speaking on the issue of insecurity, the governor attributed the seeming inability of the military to end insurgency in the North East and other part of the country to the involvement of sacked Service Chiefs, particularly former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai in politics.
“You were witnesses to how under Buratai, the army was exposed to politics, which have never happened in the history of this country. Army began to carry ballot boxes. I have never seen that. Before we used to talk about police, now it’s no longer the police.
“Professionalism is no longer there and that is why it is difficult to fight insecurity. Instead of then to concentrate and map out strategy, what they are interested is Rivers State. Who will we send there to make sure the election is rigged. The former Chief of Army Staff will even call INEC to cancel Rivers State election because of his interest. I have never seen this kind of thing in my life.”
The governor said it was regrettable the former Chief of Army Staff failed to condemn his personnel who invaded INEC office in Port Harcourt a day after the Rivers State governorship election in 2019 in an attempt to subvert the wishes of the people, instead, he chose to shield them from prosecution.
“If there is a country that really means well for its citizens, the former GOC in Rivers State would have been dismissed from the Army, but because he was sent by his so called leaders, they have to protect him. That is the country that we are in, and that is why we think the media should come up and tell the world some of these stories.”
The governor noted that the inability of the media to scrutinise those in authority is partly responsible for lack of accountable by those in office. For instance, he stated that the President had promised to fight corruption and bring to book who he accused of killing the economy. But, ironically who he accused of killing the economy are now members of his political party and free from prosecution.
“Our State pays not less than 1.8Billion Naira every month for pensioners. People told me that there are news that the government do not pay pensioners. I cannot spend 1.8Billion Naira every month to pay pensioners and you will say I don’t pay pensioners, is not true.”
He further continued: “from 10th of February, we are trying to do the second round of commissioning. It’s not just flagging off, come and see if we have done the projects. I have just approved the 8th flyover as at yesterday.”
Silverbird Creative Development General Manager, Jacob Akinyemi Johnson, said the award is to let the governor know that he is doing a fantastic job for the people of Rivers State and it has not gone unnoticed.
He explained that Governor Wike was nominated as the Silverbird Extra Ordinary Personality of the Year 2020 because of the projects he has embarked upon and his fearlessness.
