The Nation / Nigeria: Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of plotting against democracy in the state.
He hinged the accusation on the failure of the electoral commission to hold the delayed rerun elections.
The governor said it was ironic that INEC, which conducted successful elections in the Northeast and Sambisa forest, could not conduct elections in Rivers state.
Speaking during a state dinner for delegates of the West African Architects Fair from 13 countries on Friday night, Wike said the non-conclusion of rerun in the state was fallout of the grand conspiracy to rig the polls in favour of an undisclosed unpopular political party.
According to him: “Elections took place in Borno State. Elections took place in Yobe State.
“Elections took place in Adamawa State, where you have deadly insurgency. They were able to conduct elections and votes were counted.
“They were able to conduct elections in Sambisa forest and votes were counted but they cannot conduct elections here in Rivers State.”
“Because people want to illegally seize power in Rivers State that is why you are hearing all this.
“All these plots are to take Rivers State. Why do you want to take Rivers State, when it is not your own?
“Between March 19th and now, they planned to do elections so that they can get the number of seats to impeach me and put their own man.
“Since March, everyday they postponed the elections. From May to June to July, August then September. They said October ending, still no election.
“Now, they say 10th of December and when we get to 10th of December, they may shift it to next year.”
The Rivers governor said INEC and its alleged collaborators had denied the state representation in the Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers Assembly.
He went on: “They continue to postpone the elections in Rivers State. The Senate will be discussing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Senators will be having the constitutional amendment and the state that produces the crude oil has no Senator and cannot be part of the discussion.
“Nobody will defend Rivers State in the Senate. Nigerians are not worried. Why? Rivers is a minority state.”
Wike also claimed Rivers was far more peaceful than other states, saying it had played host to series of international and national conferences.
He said that once elections were approaching, desperate opposition politicians and their media collaborators would allegedly be inducing negative propaganda on insecurity.
The governor alleged deliberate anti-development programmes had been slated against Rivers state, pointing out that the state had successfully overcome the plots.
He said: “We are the only state that applied for bail-out funds but they did not give to us.
“We are the only state where they started deducting our funds when a loan facility has not been given to us.”
