Why Abia, Benue were ‘denied’ CBN loans—Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has threatened to expose certain individuals who surreptitiously stopped the release of loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Abia and Benue States.

Wike alleged that the motive was to punish Governors Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu for standing with him to demand for the resignation of the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu.

The Rivers State governor spoke at the 58th birthday celebration of Okezie Ikpeazu, in his country home of Umuobiakwa community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, on Tuesday.

“I will tell you very soon, how money that was supposed to come to Abia State for my friend to use to develop Abia State was stopped recently by those who think they own this country, those who think Ikpeazu did not support them. Because Ikpeazu supported me, they stopped Abia State from getting the money meant to develop Ariara Market.

Read also: Wike’s massive aides recruitment sets tongues wagging in Rivers

“Okezie Ikpeazu is just governor of Abia State. He is not the owner of Abia State. He is just a symbol of Abia State. Anybody who fights Abia State, you’re not fighting Okezie, you are fighting the people of Abia.”

Wike, who was the special guest of honour at the event, was accompanied by Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State.

The Rivers State governor explained that the CBN loan is a facility that is made available to every state of the federation. According to him, the Rivers State government had accessed and secured the loan already.

“I will tell all of you, how Abia and Benue States were denied of their money that every state had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“I got it (CBN loan). And anybody who dares to stop my money, they know, I will not take it from them. You can see how people are wicked, they are not in office yet, but they are fighting people, stopping states’ money.

“Even as we have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, he has never stopped our money any day, never.”

Wike frowned at some Nigerians who always carry on as if they are masters over others, and would stop at nothing in daring to treat people as slaves.

The governor stated that nobody can treat him as a slave because, as a Nigerian, he has equal citizen’s status like every other Nigerian.

“Let me tell all of you here; I never told him (Ikpeazu) I will say this. Why would some people think some of us are not Nigerians: some people think some of us are slaves. We would never be slaves. I would never be a slave to anybody,” Wike said.