Former gubernatorial candidate for Rivers state,
Tonye Princewill, called the incumbent Rivers
state governor, Nyesom Wike, a joke in this
exclusive interview with Aderonke Bello of
Naij.com.
He called Wike’s emergence as a PDP governor in
Rivers state an insult.
The prince of Alabari kingdom, who had earlier
accused the former governor, Rotimi Amaechi, of
selling government properties to fund his political
party, stood by his claims in this chat by coming out
to say he has evidence to back it up.
He also added that no elections took place at his
local government ward during the past general
elections. Princewill said that guns were used to
chase people away from polling units. Naij.com: What do you think about the recent
appointment of Brig. Gen. P.T. Boroh (rtd.) as the
coordinator of the amnesty programme for
former Niger Delta militants?
Princewill: My comment is more on the timing than
the person. I prefer to be a constructive critic rather
than just a commentator. The timing shows that
President Buhari wanted to avert a crisis. The
vacuum left by the removal of the former
coordinator could have precipitated one. The use of
Brig Gen Boroh suggests he has confidence in him.
Let us hold on to that. Time will tell if he will rise to
the challenge. I, for one, have no reason to doubt
that he will. But my father taught me not to believe
in my breakfast until I have eaten it, so I along with
many others will be watching and hoping he will not
let us down. It is too soon to say much more than
that. The timing suggests Mr President values the
carrot more than the stick. For now.
Tonye Princewill
Naij.com: You were suspended for alleged anti-
party activities by the Labour Party before the
general elections, are you guilty as charged?
Princewill: Not at all. The matter was an internal
family quarrel and its resolution was equally a
family affair. Some misguided, misled elements
were trigger happy and smelt blood. They didn’t
realise it was their own blood they were smelling.
The message there is simple. I am a threat and so it
is in the interest of some Rivers politicians to make
my party ungovernable. As before, they will not
succeed. My focus is way ahead of their distractions.
Naij.com: You accused former governor Amaechi
of selling government properties to fund the APC
campaign before the elections, but the
government disputed your claim. Was your
statement a fact or a political statement?
Princewill: I don’t talk loosely. After I issued my
statement, they responded via the then
commissioner of finance in a manner that could
only be described as weak and an afterthought. I
know the man and I do not believe he wrote that
embarrassment. My team followed up within an
hour with four key questions they have not
answered till date.
1. Which assets did you sell and to whom?
2. Did you publicly advertise the assets for sale and
if so where was it advertised?
3. How did you determine the value of the assets?
4. Where is the money you realised from the sales?
The problem in Nigeria is we don’t do investigative
journalism and the public do not see the assets as
their own because they don’t pay tax. Why should it
be left to me to dig deep into these matters? I raised
it in December 2014. Where are the organised civil
society, where are you the media? Nigeria needs
help. Politics is too important to be left to
politicians. Same applies to governance.
Naij.com: Many say you should have contested
for the Senate or the House of Reps first before
running for governor. What is your reaction to
this?
Princewill: I came to change the system, not to be a
part of the status quo. Those that are running for
governor do not have two heads. I am glad that
those who watched the governorship debate rightly
held between the three of us agreed unanimously
that my performance was a knock out win. It’s there
on YouTube. Tell the many to go and watch it. Then
answer this. Can we continue to move forward at the
expense of the more competent?
Naij.com: You have contested twice to be the
governor of Rivers state and you have lost on
those two attempts. Do you not think you should
settle with Rivers elders that are allegedly
crossed with you?
Princewill: I contested eight years apart, and the
only thing that has changed is instead of one violent
party as it was in 2007, now there were two. As a
son of one of the foremost elders in the state, I beg
to disagree about Rivers elders being cross with me.
He is loved amongst elders and I have done him and
his peers very proud. The contest for Rivers state
has never been free and fair, but at least in the past,
it has been credible. If that had been the case when I
contested, your question would have given me
pause. Unfortunately it was not.
I am not sure what it is about me, but when they see
me coming, the analog politicians bring out the
worst in themselves. 2007 and 2015 are the worst
elections in recorded history. My local government
never voted. In 2007, the INEC officer was bold
enough to acknowledge it. In 2015, the result
declared a 90% turnout in a place were shooting
started at 8pm the night before and continued until
4pm on the day of the election. The shooting was
not done by elders and the bullets expended by both
violent parties was not free. Only God will judge this
one.
Read the rest here»»»»> Source: https://www.naij.com/535281-exclusive-princewill-lambasts-nyesom-wike-calls-joke.html

Time shall tell.

@ op yu created a thread nd still became the first to comment on it. Na wa o. Bck to d thread after reading it, I think the Bashing was more on Amaechi dan Wike xo d Headline shud ve read Amaechi nt Wike.

let's watch and c

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Someone who became the Governor with the majority votes in his state is a Joke? Lol this people aint normal at all.. Even if he's a joke, he's more presentable than those you called 'Change'. Bye!

Wike is not only a joke but a wicked liar !!!