Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the Presidency to disband anti-corruption agencies instead of embarrassing them.
The Governor insisted that the presidential pardon for persons prosecuted over corruption charges by the Federal Government was a proof that there was no need for anti-corruption agencies.
Wike wondered how to explain the embarrassment the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) were made to suffer by that action because it had made them to be irrelevant.
The Governor, according to a statement by his Special Assistant , Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke while addressing delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State on Monday as part of his ongoing consultation ahead of the 28th and 29th Presidential primary.
He said: “This is the same government that complained against the judiciary that it is not fighting against corruption. Now, look at what the judges have passed through; sleepless night from the FCT High Court to the Court of Appeal to Supreme Court, everything is wasted.
“If President Muhammadu Buhari knows that he doesn’t want to fight corruption, then, he should disband EFCC and ICPC because he has thoroughly embarrassed them.
“So, all these things he (Buhari) is doing is because of election coming soon. They want this person in Plateau State to help them and they want this person in Taraba State to help them. But it will not work because Wike will face them in that election.”
Wike dismissed the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, who said the pardon should not be faulted.
The Rivers Governor said it should be a thing to worry about because the same people, who said they were fighting corruption were going through the back to release the same people that they said were corrupt.
He said: “So, when his press man (Garba Shehu)said I was invited to the Council of State, is it because I’m not there, that is why they did what they did?
“If you wanted me to contribute, you would have sent me the agenda. Then, I would have known what I’m coming to do in the meeting.
“It’s not when you don’t send me agenda, I come, then you boxed us in, ambushed us, then you said I attended the meeting where they approved it. I will not attend such meeting.”
Wike also explained: “When they said my deputy attended and when they looked back they could not see my deputy again. Why would you see her?
“When she had seen what was there, she had to switch off because she knew it was a wayo. That is what this APC government is known for.”
The Governor told the delegates that it was time for Nigerians to brace up to correct the mistake that brought the APC government to power.
Wike said he was offering himself as the most competent aspirant seeking their votes at the presidential primaries to fly the flag of the PDP.
He noted that it would require a man like him to end the sight of insecurity and poverty that are seen everywhere in Nigeria.
Kano PDP Chairman, Shehu Wada Sagagi, assured Wike of the delegates support because they believe that the next presidential flag bearer of the party must come from the southerner part of the country.
“We know as a matter of principle, and all of us here agree that presidency should move to the South. That is a fair deal, because when in 2019 the presidency was zoned to the north, no any southern aspirant emerge to say that he will contest, unlike what is happening now. But I am sure with the way you are going, you will defeat all those evil forces that are planning evil against you.”
Sagagi said Kano delegates will not be swayed by ethno-religious sentiment.
He declared that they will support Wike based on his proven competency, capacity and ability to move the country forward.
