Rivers state governor, Nyeson Wike has said that it is laughable for President Muhammadu Buhari to have signed the 2022 budget that he alleged to be padded by the National Assembly with new schemes worth N37 billion but failed to sign the electoral act amendment bill.
Wike stated this when he paid a New Year visit to Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in his town, Orba in Udenu local government area of the state.
According to Wike, the speed with which the President signed the 2022 budget, which he had described as unimplementable was curious and smacks of insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
“Look at Mr. President the other day while he was signing the budget, said the budget is unimplementable.
“But he went on and signed what is unimplementable. A budget that will determine the state of the economy, the progress of this nation, and the President knew this thing can’t work and he signed it. Then the Electoral Act, he said he will not sign it because direct primary was too expensive.
“What concerns me with party primaries? What concerns the poor people with party primaries? The one that concerns the poor man, business man, how to grow the economy, you signed it, knowing too well that it will not work,” he said.
While positing that the All Progressives Party, APC-led federal government had failed Nigeria, Wike called on the people of Enugu to join forces with well meaning Nigerians to salvage the country.
“You must join the rest of Nigerians. Nigeria is dying. Will you be here to see Nigeria die? Is it the kind of Nigeria that people like Nnamdi Azikiwe fought for? A Nigeria that when you wake up, what you will hear is 20 people have died, 42 people have been kidnapped, 100 people have been abducted. Everyday death, death.”
Ugwuanyi said Wike has distinguished himself as a bold and courageous leader, while describing the visit as a signpost of the deepening relationship between the two states.
“Last year, I was in Rivers state on two occasions, on the governor’s invitation to commission two major road projects. On each occasion, I left Rivers State with strong and positive impression of your commitment to project conception and quick delivery.
“You have distinguished yourself as a visionary, bold and audacious leader, even when you have inspired trust and confidence in our democracy. You have fought for our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and have given voice for the voiceless. You have been a defender of the defenseless,” Ugwuanyi said.
