The Rivers State government has berated Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina over some comments made about the state governor, Nyesom Wike in a piece he wrote recently.
Recall that Wike had written a letter to President Buhari, expressing his sincere appreciation for the refund of the sum of N78.9 billion expended on federal projects in the state.
But in a statement on Sunday, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said the state government is amazed at several comments that have greeted the recent letter written.
Nsirim, however, condemned Adesina for making governor Wike’s letter of appreciation to the president a political matter and painting the governor as an anti-Buharist.
He revealed that the monies were neither generous loans, gifts, or a desperate bailout package as people like Adesina are shaping the narrative to sound.
He said: “Most of these responses have either been mischievous, absurd, totally misleading and some even trying to conjure and configure fabulist narratives, celebrating the mystique and magical influence of the power of money on the human psyche.
“But the most remarkable of these is the one written by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, titled: WIKE VINDICATES BUHARISTS,” the commissioner said while admitting that Adesina’s opinions attract considerable attention and commands tremendous weight.
“While Rivers people will not complain that the money was actually reduced from the original amount and that it even took so long for President Buhari’s fairness and justice to touch Rivers State, while he has been fair and just to other states, we are all still very happy and grateful that this approval for refund has been made, finally.
“Attempts by people like Adesina to make political capital out of the genuine stance of a statesman will not be bought by well-meaning Nigerians.
“What makes Adesina’s grandstanding more worrisome is that he will never comment or let the world know how much the South-West States received as refund for federal projects executed in that part of the country.
“Governor Wike’s letter of appreciation and appeal for a presidential state visit is thus a clear indication that what the people thought was lost has now been recovered. All is well that ends well and Rivers people are happy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the letter to Mr. President was delivered to Aso Rock, three weeks before it was published.
“Governor Wike is not like Adesina who knows how to speak from both sides of his mouth. In 2008, he said this about the Chief of Staff to the President: “Gambari enslaved himself to please his paymasters.
“Now 13 years after, the shackles are still tied around his neck, threatening to asphyxiate him. What an eternal lesson for fawning bootlicking grovellers to learn. Old sins indeed have long shadows.”
“Now that Gambari is Chief of Staff to the President, people have been asking if Adesina still sees Gambari’s sins’ shadows or he (Adesina) has turned to a bootlicking groveller?
“There is no doubt that he is currently savouring the office of Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity as a compensation, having used his positions as former Editor-In-Chief of The Sun Newspapers and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors to feather his own nest. Adesina should be told that no amount of political mischief will turn Governor Wike from a hero to a villain in this matter.
“The Wike that I know cannot be swayed by pecuniary interests. He will always stand for the truth and defend the interests of Rivers people.
“Considering the fact that the approval for the refund was also made for monies expended by Rivers State for Federal Projects, isn’t it equally apt that Governor Nyesom Wike should invite Mr. President to come and at least see the work for which the refund was made? Indeed, it will also provide Mr. President the grand opportunity to see firsthand, the amazing and fantastic infrastructural wonders which Governor Wike is delivering in Rivers State.
“This is absolutely the right thing to do by a grateful recipient.”
My only question to you Mr commissioner is”Where did that refund came from, Abuja or port Harcourt?
Because you were there when your boss wike said that he can never take orders from Abuja.
Is it same buhari who wike said that cannot give him orders that wike is wike now begging to come and commission projects for him??I do hope that wike is not confused or is wike no longer a strong man that he claimed to be again???
We should hope that wike will use that N78,000,000,000 judiciously and well and not using it to cury support from Dr peter Odili maybe by giving him another N500,000,000 donation.
Given regards to the old age is a part of praying for long life.you don’t insult and abuse a man of old age who can father you because you are in an opposition party and turn back to praise him because of the money that he refunded your state.
Obj will not do that,
Gej your brother, boss and master couldn’t do this gesture which pmb has done to Rivers people here.
Wike,you have gone back to your vomit.