Written by Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Rijeka Gov. Nyesom Wike said Tuesday that the governors of the Congress of All Progressives (APC) have failed in their states.
He challenged them to present the projects they carried out.
Wike was speaking when Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom opened the rehabilitated and expanded Tombia Road, Ndoni Street and Amaji Street in the new GRA Phase 2, the Obio-Akpor State Local Government Area as part of the urban renewal program.
Both governors accused the APC of suppressing the opposition and advocating a one-party state.
In a statement by his special assistant for the media, Kelvin Ebiri, the governor said that only PDP governors develop and deliver infrastructure projects.
Wike was quoted as saying: “A few weeks ago, the governor of the state of Benue called me and ordered some projects. I went and ordered at least three travel projects.
“They received us very well and I told him that the people of Rivers will love him, and also order projects in the country so that Nigerians know that the opposition party is a party that means good for the development of this country.
“We challenge the ruling party to launch projects and invite people to come and order them.”
Wike described his colleague from Benue as an honest, brave man, committed to the development of his people.
He explained that when Ortom was persecuted and intimidated, he stood firm and stayed with the people, which he said attracted him to Governor Benue.
Wike said his relationship with Ortom was designed to force both states and the PDP to move forward.
He said: “One of the reasons why I have called Governor Benue here is to let people know that there are people who are committed to the growth and development of this country.
“There are people who will never be intimidated by their attitudes; who oppose injustice in this country.
“Governor Ortom is one of the governors who will stand firm in what he believes in. He doesn’t care if you deny the residents of the state of Benue what they owe.
“He will continue to tell the truth as it is. You all know what happened in Benue, what he went through, how they tried to intimidate him, but he stood firm and said no.
“It’s the same thing we do here. Despite all the intimidation and what they are trying to do to us, we have stood firmly in defense of the interests of our state.
“So I would love to hang out with people like this and it will make our state, our party and our country move forward.”
Ortom said God ordained him and Wike to work together as brothers and friends in advocating for the voiceless and marginalized people of the country.
He said that since 2015, Nigeria has ceased to be a country where justice, fairness and equity are promoted.
Ortom said that the PDP, while it was the ruling party, never suppressed other parties, stating that the APC led the country along one party line.