Wike also reiterated that the APC-led Federal Government has failed Nigerians, necessitating the need for a new federal government in 2019.
Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians.
The governor has also denied playing any role in the emergence of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as the running mate of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
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Wike said this in reaction to insinuations that he had a hand in Obi’s choice.
He disclosed this in an interview with a national television on the programme, Roadmap 2019.
Wike said: “I never nominated Obi; but, the mere fact that the vice presidential candidate is coming from the South East does not give the zone the sole right to nominate a person, since the entire country will benefit. When the South East said they were not consulted before Obi was nominated, where did we meet as a party to agree that the vice presidential candidate must come from the South East. But, we said if the presidential candidate believes he has somebody to work with, we said, so be it.”
He said the fact that the vice presidential candidate should come from the South East, does not foreclose the inputs of the other five geo-political zones.
Wike also reiterated that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government has failed Nigerians, necessitating the need for a new federal government in 2019.
He said the recent visit of four South South governors to President Muhammadu Buhari has no political connotation and noted that the governors were at the Presidential Villa to discuss the development of the Niger Delta.
“Our meeting with the president had nothing to do with politics; it was strictly for the benefit of the South-South. There is no personal problem between the president and myself. He came to Port Harcourt to commission a project that would add value and I had to be there.
“But, when it comes to politics, I say no, the party of the president has performed poorly. It has failed Nigerians. The APC is not doing well. But, when it comes to governance, you give the president that respect.”
On the new minimum wage, Wike said its review can only be sustained when the revenue sharing formula of the country is reviewed.
“I never opposed upward review of minimum wage for workers; but, the revenue sharing formula must be reviewed. Assuming a state like Zamfara gets N3 billion monthly, and the monthly wage bill is N4 billion, then, the state will not survive. Labour should understand the situation.
“You cannot talk of a sustainable new minimum wage when you have not reviewed the revenue sharing formula. More of the money should be moved from the Federal Government to the states that bear the burden of governance.
“If there is no review of the revenue sharing formula, then, we are not being fair,” he said.
On his quest for a second term, Wike said he has made landmark achievements in the area of roads, health, education, justice sector, empowerment and special projects, which need consolidation for the rapid growth of the state.
He said other than the hope that federal might would be deployed in 2019, there is no party that would have fielded a candidate in Rivers State.
Wike, however, added that alleged rigging plot would fail as it did during the re-run elections.
The governor also alleged that he is a target of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as far as the 2019 general election is concerned.