The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has issued a stern warning to all banks in the state to stop granting loans to Governor Nyesom Wike after his election was overturned at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, November 16, Dr. Davies Ikanya, the state chairman of the APC said banks that ignored the warning were working against the interests of the state, This Day reports.
Ikanya said that Wike had, in the five months of his administration, wasted an initial N30 billion bank loan on road projects which he (Ikanya) claimed do not correspond to the amount spent.
The APC chairman also alleged that Wike was planning to take another N10 billion loan, saying the governor had no cause to go for such a fresh loan.
He said: “I am not going to mention names but these banks but they know themselves. Whose interest are they protecting by giving out loans to Wike?
“The election of the governor had been annulled at the tribunal. Why is he going for loans again and for what purpose? I think I know why, but I will not disclosed the reason now.
“But I am warning the banks to stop giving out loans to Wike. If they persist, they will account for their actions.”
However, in a swift response, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike’s special assistant (electronic media), described the party leadership as jobless people who had nothing worthwhile to do.
He said the allegation of the APC was an attempt to be heard in the face of developmental work by Governor Nyesom Wike.
His words: “Rivers APC and her leaders are merely trying to distract Nigeria’s best performing governor. As always, they will fail once again.
“Governor Wike is committed to the development of Rivers State and will not be drawn into unnecessary politicking when he is seriously engaged in pro-people projects.
“Like the governor has always maintained, we have transited into the phase of development. The primary concern of the governor is to ensure that all parts of Rivers State experience development.
“There are procedures for taking development loans. Governor Wike, a lawyer and administrator, followed these procedures when he obtained loans following the empty treasury he met upon assumption of duty.”
The warning from the APC to banks comes after Governor Wike defended his resort to loans from banks to fund capital projects maintaining that nothing will deter him from ensuring that the state remains on track despite the economic cash crunch besetting the country.
Wike made this declaration at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s National Executive Meeting (NEC) held at Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre Port Harcourt last week and reiterated that the state did not receive any financial bailout from the federal government.
Ikanya said that Wike had, in the five months of his administration, wasted an initial N30 billion bank loan on road projects which he (Ikanya) claimed do not correspond to the amount spent.
The APC chairman also alleged that Wike was planning to take another N10 billion loan, saying the governor had no cause to go for such a fresh loan.
He said: “I am not going to mention names but these banks but they know themselves. Whose interest are they protecting by giving out loans to Wike?
“The election of the governor had been annulled at the tribunal. Why is he going for loans again and for what purpose? I think I know why, but I will not disclosed the reason now.
“But I am warning the banks to stop giving out loans to Wike. If they persist, they will account for their actions.”
However, in a swift response, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike’s special assistant (electronic media), described the party leadership as jobless people who had nothing worthwhile to do.
He said the allegation of the APC was an attempt to be heard in the face of developmental work by Governor Nyesom Wike.
His words: “Rivers APC and her leaders are merely trying to distract Nigeria’s best performing governor. As always, they will fail once again.
“Governor Wike is committed to the development of Rivers State and will not be drawn into unnecessary politicking when he is seriously engaged in pro-people projects.
“Like the governor has always maintained, we have transited into the phase of development. The primary concern of the governor is to ensure that all parts of Rivers State experience development.
“There are procedures for taking development loans. Governor Wike, a lawyer and administrator, followed these procedures when he obtained loans following the empty treasury he met upon assumption of duty.”
The warning from the APC to banks comes after Governor Wike defended his resort to loans from banks to fund capital projects maintaining that nothing will deter him from ensuring that the state remains on track despite the economic cash crunch besetting the country.
Wike made this declaration at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s National Executive Meeting (NEC) held at Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre Port Harcourt last week and reiterated that the state did not receive any financial bailout from the federal government.
