Tobias Sylvester
The president-elect, Bola Tinubu has revealed why he declined the request of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
KanyiDaily recalls that during the commissioning of the Rumuokwuta-Rumuola flyover bridge, Wike requested the refund of funds spent on building flyovers and federal roads in the state.
In his response, Tinubu told Wike “I owe you nothing”, stressing that the governor has to lobby him to get refunds for the monies expended by the state on federal projects.
“On the demand you made for refund, I owe you nothing. It’s your road. You’re the one living on these roads. I commend your efforts. You have to lobby me to collect”, he said.
Clarifying his statement during a banquet in his honour on Wednesday night, Tinubu said Wike was in order against any shade of interpretation the public was given to it.
He said, “I exchanged a banter with Gov Wike, if you take me seriously, (it’s left to you). The truth is, I’m a President-elect. I have no signature for expenditure until sworn in. How can I make a commitment? I cannot sign a dime of Nigeria money or expenditure now. There can only be one president at a time.
“If you ask me to go and commit to things that are mere expectations and cannot be fulfilled, I believe in fulfilling promises, that’s why I’m here. And we have to do it for Nigeria. I thank you all for the support you gave me during the election, but I’m still on a countdown.
“If I sign anything for you now and commit to it, I can’t pay. For that flyover, how can I pay, personal? That’s not realistic.
“I hope that clears the social media fears. I don’t respond to (social media talks). There is no name they’ve not called me on (social media). It’s a free speech society and around the world.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how Nyesom Wike received Bola Tinubu in Port-Harcourt for a two-day official visit to the state.
