•••WIKE PLAYING BOLEKAJA POLITICS – GARBA SHEHU
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has faulted the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari for granting state pardon to former Governors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye of Taraba and Plateau States respectively.
Wike alleged that the President granted the two convicted former governors state pardon with a motive to win the forthcoming presidential election in 2023.
The River State Governor made the comment while speaking with delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party in Minna ahead of party’s primary on Saturday.
He wondered why a similar pardon was not extended to James Ibori and former Managing Director, Bank PHB, Francis Atuche if there was no electoral motive behind the pardon.
“He obviously wants them to help him during the elections, he wants Dariye to help with Plateau while Nyame will work for Taraba.
“If it is not for election purpose, why did he not grant pardon to the likes of James Ibori and Atuche?” We asked
Wike also described the decision of the National Council of State outright Loy unfair indeed a ridicule to the judiciary.
He said that it was a glaring waste of resources and efforts that lasted many years to get the convictions.
He wondered how the international community would perceive the nation’s position on corruption.
“I want to tell you that this government is very deceptive and they have deceived us enough.
“You have big big people, you jail them after all the court proceedings and waste of money, then you ridicule the judiciary by granting them pardon.
“How will the international community look at us with these type of things we do. Look at the amount spent in the prosecutions and you wake up one morning and messed it up all because of politics.”
Wike who spoke on the issue of the possible selection of a consensus candidate for the PDP in the next presidential election pointed out that the party’s constitution does not make provision for it
However, he said that he would support the arrangement if it is based on equity, fairness and justice,
“I will agree on consensus if it is based on equity, justice and fairness because as it is, those who are talking about consensus are not sincere and there is nothing like consensus in our constitution.
“Whoever emerges as the flagbearer, I will do whatever I can to ensure that the PDP wins the election,”
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, has said that Wike has no moral justification to criticize the decision of the meeting which he failed to attend in spite of invitation.
Garba Shehu who described Wike’s reaction as bolekaja politics in his official Twitter handle, said that Wike or his representatives should have put forth their views in the meeting.
“I do not see the moral justification for Governor Wike’s criticism of the decision of the government to pardon Governors Dariye and Nyame at a meeting to which he was duly invited but did not attend.
“The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo who joined the Council of State meeting virtually switched off her camera so it was difficult to determine whether she sat behind the dark screen or just walked away after first joining.
“If the Governor felt so strongly about the pardons, the right was for him or his representative to sit through the meeting and assert views. This did not do. A press release after the meeting is bolekaja politics.” He said