Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be more effective in protecting Nigerians’ lives and property.
Wike, speaking about the country’s chronic insecurity, accused Buhari of wanting to delegate his constitutional powers of guarding lives and property to governors.
On Tuesday, the governor spoke at the commissioning of the 21-kilometer Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road in the state’s Etche Local Government Area.
Wike claimed that the federal administration, led by the All Progressives Congress, had no idea how to address the country’s troubling security challenges and make it safe for Nigerians.
He urged the federal government to declare that it can no longer keep its commitments to Nigerians, noting that acknowledging weakness openly when a leader fails earns respect.
“Mr President, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
You appoint the Inspector-General of Police, the Chiefs of Army and Naval Staffs, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Service, and other security officials.
“Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr President be under me?
“It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must also be in charge of other things including security. Who signed order 10? Is it the governors?
“Mr. President was short of calling names of those governors who run to Aso Rock when they are supposed to stay in their states to see the needs of their states and people. Mr. President should have come out openly and said, my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work. On that, I support him.
“Thank God, Mr. President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under PDP, you’ll never find me there.”
Critics of the Federal Government have lamented over the level of borrowing by the current administration but the Buhari government has defended its action.
