By Charles Adingupu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Visit to Port Harcourt, Rivers State in South South Nigeria as President elect will not be wipe away easily in the memory of Nigerians as his utterrance of “I own you nothing but you can lobby me,” to get refund of the over #80 billion spent on federal government roads by the Chief host, Governor Nyesom Wike has engendered reactions.
Beyond that, feelers within certain political cycle described the whole exercise that reportedly created a huge financial burden on the State following the public holiday declared by Wike to welcome the President elect to commission what he described as strategic projects.
For some residents in the State, Tinubu’s visit has further deepen the political acrimony existing between the two rival parties as members of the All Progressives Congress, APC were not formerly invited to participate in a program where one of their own is to preside over a landmark event.
However reactions collated by The New Diplomat from different media social platforms as Twitter and conventional television and radio stations, shows that Nigerians are indeed unhappy with almost every thing connected to Tinubu’s visit in Rivers State.
Excerpts:
Shehu Sani:
Governor Wike’s desperation for appointment in the oncoming Tinubu’s government is what is playing out here.
Reuben Abati, Arise TV:
For me, the President elect is moving fast than his legs could carry him. He has not been sworn in. He should wait until May 29 when he will be formerly inaugurated as the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria. He cannot be going about commissioning projects as President elect. It’s important to note that Wike wanted to play a fast game by demanding for a refund of money spent by the Rivers State government to work on federal government roads in the state. Hence, the President elect as a old political Fox, reacted swiftly by saying, “I own you nothing but you lobby me.” As a Governor of Lagos State, he had an altercation with the then President Olusegun Obasanjo over refund of money expended on federal roads. Though it has been proven that Governors constructing federal roads was all a scam as some them collude with officials of the federal ministry of works to inflate the cost of roads constructed.
Kazim Ogun state:
Asiwaju’s hungry for power is what prompted him to honour the invitation by Wike to come and commission flyover bridge. What a shame and what a country?
Nwaosu Emmanuel, Abia:
Tinubu’s visit to Rivers State is akin to the baby Antelope who was informed that there would be a dancing at the village Square tomorrow. Out of excitement, it started dancing, and in the joyous process, it’s leg was broken. The next day when the real dancing competition is to begin, it has no leg to dance. I wonder what Tinubu will be doing after his inauguration now that is commissioning projects.
Isiaku Adamawa Boy:
Perhaps this is pay back time for Wike’s historic betrayal of his PDP party members. Let him count his teeth with his tongue. The President elect has told him point blank “I own you nothing.”
Rufai Oseni Arise TV:
For two days Rivers State residents have enjoyed public holiday. One declared by the federal government to observed the Workers’Day celebration nationwide. The other, declared by the the Almighty Governor Wike to welcome the President elect who is coming to commission “strategic projects.” It means that for two days the economy of the State was shut down. Can somebody quantify the colossal waste the residents and government have lost? This is outrageous and we cannot continue like this.
Ayo Mairo-Ese Arise TV:
For a state that has over 50% unemployed people and with high poverty rate, that statistics is from the NBS, I don’t think it’s wise to shut down the economy of the state for two days running. If Wike will pay the Civil Servants for not working for those days, who pay the traders who were forced to close down their shops? Other artisans who eke a living from proceeds realised from their daily work.
However, we must commend the Governor as Tinubu earlier pointed out for his development strides. But he would have achieved his commissioning without shutting down the economy of the state.
Warri Man:
Tinubu is only demonstrating his capacity to perform as President of Nigeria. Let’s watch him and see how well he will replicate what he did in Lagos to the Nigeria as a country. There’s a big difference between presiding over the affairs of a state and ruling a big country like Nigeria. But we are waiting in the wings to hold him to his election promises.
