"No more Governor's boy"- Wike shocks Rivers LGA chairs

Nyesom Wike: acknowledges receiving N78b refund from Buhari’s govt

…”Operation Show executed projects in your LGA. No more to ‘we are Governor’s Boys,”and very loyal to the party”.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike shocks local government chairpersons in Rivers on Wednesday with assertion that they should not expect to be given automatic ticket for a second term.

According to him, each of the council chiefs must show the projects executed as proof of performance to get a second term ticket ahead of the state’s local government election.

Wike gave the warning while speaking during the commissioning of the Phase 2 of the Isiokpo Internal Roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday.

The Governor warned that he cannot be going around commissioning projects while the council chiefs are following him without any project to commission with the hope that being a “Governor’s Boy”, will guarantee them another term of office.

“Your following me around to commission project is not a guarantee to get ticket. In fact, I don’t see you. To qualify for April 2021 Rivers State local government election, it is going to be “Operation show your projects. I will not listen to; this your boy is loyal”.

“I cannot be suffering, going everywhere commissioning projects, and all you have to show is “I am Governor’s Boy.” Something is wrong with you fundamentally.

“Let me state clearly today to every leader; let nobody come with “any boy” to come and run elections because ‘he’s your Boy. I don’t want to hear it. All I want is someone who can make impact in their Local Government, and improve the chances of PDP winning Elections in 2023.”

The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state and the council chiefs were president during the commissioning.

Our correspondent can report that out the 23 local government chairpersons in Rivers, only a negligible few have projects to show besides collection of taxes and levies which are usually not accounted for in the three years they have been on the saddle.

A party source said most of the chairpersons believe that one of major qualifications for their appointment was because they fall under the category of “Governor’s Boys,” and so second tenure is “as good secured”.

Rivers State Government has scheduled the local government election into the 23 local government areas in State is scheduled for April 2021.