WorldStage– Former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said opposition governors are trooping to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) because the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made all states across the country financially buoyant, unlike in the past they ran from bank to bank shopping for loan to buffer finances for salary payments and projects execution.
Wike cited the reason during a broadcast interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
Reacting to question on why governors are defecting to join Tinubu’s political camp ahead of 2027 election, the FCT Minister said: “Let every state be sincere to their people, and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to mention doing projects.
“Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states, and the Federal Capital Territory, not to be running around banks again. Rather, banks are now looking for states to say, ‘Look, don’t throw us away, we are here.’’
“Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before.”
He described the decision to defect and support the Tinubu-led administration as “worthwhile,” adding that no governor would leave debts for their successors any longer, as it used to happen before.
“So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody.
“And that’s what this country needs now: Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership that will be able to make decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity.”
