Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Saturday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s pardon of former governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame is very shameful.
He said the corruption fight of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government is shrouded in despicable politics that puts Nigeria up for ridicule in the international community.
Wike made the observation on Saturday when he visited Niger State as part of his ongoing consultation with delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor said it is difficult to explain the rationale of the APC-led Federal Government in handpicking supposed corrupt persons, make them to go through court processes up to Supreme Court and then turn around to release them in the guise of a pardon.
He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to Nigerians was to fight corruption forthrightly, but that the pattern was now obvious that it is tilted against those who are opposed to his policy and programmes.
“To tell you the truth, this APC government has deceived us a lot. This is a government that said they’re fighting corruption, they handpicked people and jailed them after they have gone through all court processes up to Supreme Court.
“Then they turned around to release them from prison those people that they said are corrupt. What a country is this? What a government is this?
“Doing it for political reasons because the elections are coming and they want (Joshua) Dariye to help their party in Plateau State. They want (Jolly) Nyame to help them in Taraba State. Why don’t they give pardon to James Ibori for example.
“Look at how they have made the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to prosecute and spend so much money. Then at the end of the day you played politics with it. How will the international community look at us? It’s so shameful.”
Wike told the delegates that he is resolved to end the era of lies by the APC to Nigerians, which is why he is soliciting for the ticket to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential election.
He assured of tackling the festering insecurity in parts of the country so that farmers could return to the farms and grow the economy.
“The day you give me the ticket is the day we will start to form the government, because by giving me the ticket, I know I’ve won the election already.
“It is only when you’ve given me the ticket that I’ll make sure that I present, put together the best of professionals that will help me to run the affairs of this country.
“Leadership is the ability to organise and galvanised experts to do the work under adequate supervision and coordination.”
Speaking further, Wike said what he has done in Rivers State is towering evidence of what he is prepared to do as president of Nigeria if given the opportunity to serve.
He explained that he is a performer, a courageous person and that Nigeria needed his fearless personality to salvage the country.
