Wike Speaks On Why He Picked Names From The Opposition Parties To Inaugurate His Projects

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has opened up on why he invited leaders from opposition parties to inaugurate his projects.

According to him, he is free to invite whoever he wants to be present at such events because he has the right to.

Naija News reports that Wike confirmed that the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and his New Nigeria National Party(NNNP) counterpart Rabiu Kwankwaso as well as a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, would be in the state to open some projects.

The governor was reported to have said this while leading the Emir of Kano, HRH Ado Bayero, at the inauguration of the world-class Peter Odili Cancer Diagnostic and Cardiovascular Centre in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He also confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari would be in the state to inaugurate the Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigeria Law School.

Naija News reported earlier today that Wike had sent an invitation to Obi to commission one of the projects executed by his administration in the state.

The development was contained in an announcement made by Dr Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson for the Obi/Datti presidential campaign.

Sharing the invite on his Twitter handle, Tanko wrote, “We are inching closer to reclaiming Nigeria for the Nigerian People……….. Join us Rivers State People!!!. We keep moving Obidently & Yusfuly. Destination Aso villa.”

Wike however submitted that “Those, who are saying why am I not inviting them to inaugurate projects, you invite me to inaugurate in your own place. I have a choice to invite whoever I want to come and inaugurate projects. On Wednesday, Adams Oshiomhole will come.

“On Thursday, Peter Obi will come and commission, on Friday President Buhari will commission the Nigerian Law School. On Monday, Kwankwaso will come. If you want to have high blood pressure, it is your business”.

Explaining why he named the cancer centre after Odili, the governor said Odili distinguished himself for not abandoning his people and relocating to Abuja to join others, who had developed the habit of forming associations to seek relevance and run around a presidential candidate.

He said: “Give me a better reason why I should not name it after Dr Peter Odili. This is a man who has run one of the best clinics in this State as a medical doctor. This is a man, who has served this state as a governor for eight years.

“This is a man, who had refused to join his colleagues in Abuja to form an association of former Governors so that they can be relevant in running around a presidential candidate. He has devoted himself to medical education still serving the people to see how we can train more doctors and other health officers.

“Who then is more qualified for this facility to be named after? There are those when they leave office, they don’t bother about service again. That is why we are where we are. People became governors for eight years, senators for 16 years, and nobody cares about home again.

“All they do is to live in Abuja and form associations and then begin to hang around the presidential candidate. Instead of them making the presidential candidate win election, they begin to deceive him. But Odili refused to be a party to that. I am very proud and I owe nobody any apology at all. If you are not happy try and be a governor and name anybody you want.”