The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike in 15 months has donated not less than N2.1 billion to four states and individuals outside the state.
The donation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor was made between January 2021, and October 2022.
Governor Wike on the 20th of January, 2021 donated the sum of N500 million to the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal to support him in rebuilding the Sokoto Central Market, which was gutted by fire.
The Rivers State Governor in a related issue in Kebbi State had donated the sum of N30 million to Governor Atiku Bagudu for the victims of the inferno in the state.
Wike in his statement said apart from funds donated to support victims of the disaster, his administration will make sure that the affected market is reconstructed and becomes functional.
Governor Wike in May 2021 pledged the sum of N600m when he performed the groundbreaking of the Akwa Ibom Teaching Hospital at Awa in the Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The Rivers State Governor on the 14th of February, 2022 donated N500m to the Bayelsa State Medical Science University in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Wike, three months after the N500m donation, donated N200 million to displaced victims of banditry in Kaduna during his consultation to seek the 2023 presidential ticket of the PDP.
The Rivers State Governor on Tuesday pledged the sum of N300m to support the projects of wives of Lagos State officials at a conference organised by the women in Lagos.
The APC in his reaction to Wike’s action in a chat with Punch described the donations as a waste of resources and a sign of a lack of vision on the part of the state government at a time the state was faced with challenges.
The spokesman of APC in the state, Darlington Nwauju said, “For us, as a party, we believe it is a total waste of taxpayers’ money. It also shows clearly that there is a lack of vision on the part of the government. The governor chose to make these frivolous donations to the detriment of the people of the state. We still have issues with outstanding pension arrears, and teachers of demonstration secondary schools who have not been paid for a period of five years.
“I also got a report this afternoon (Friday) that the Rivers State University has issued a notice that returning students of the institution must pay their school fees or else they will not be able to take their examinations. The donations that have been made would have defrayed to a large extent the tuition fees of these students. Currently, Rivers State students in higher institutions are not enjoying the bursary that his predecessors actually paid.”
The media aide to Governor Wike, Kelvin Ebiri in his reaction To APC’s statement described its comment as a preposterous and baseless allegation by the remnant of a dying political party.
Ebiri said, “The needs of Rivers people are being met by the administration of Governor Wike, who was today conferred the ‘Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery’ for his excellence in public service by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari.”
