ON WIKE’S N500M DONATION TO REBUILD SOKOTO MARKET GUTTED BY FIRE – A MAN SHOULD NEVER LEAVE HIS HOUSE ON FIRE TO GO DINE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR
January 21, 2021 | News
When I recently read reports that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has pledged to donate a whopping N500 million for the rebuilding of a burnt market in Sokoto State, I cannot help but wonder if some of our Governors in the South-South actually understand what it means to set their priorities right in governance.
ON WIKE’S N500M DONATION TO REBUILD SOKOTO MARKET GUTTED BY FIRE – A MAN SHOULD NEVER LEAVE HIS HOUSE ON FIRE TO GO DINE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR
When I recently read reports that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has pledged to donate a whopping N500 million for the rebuilding of a burnt market in Sokoto State, I cannot help but wonder if some of our Governors in the South-South actually understand what it means to set their priorities right in governance. This is so because, I really don’t understand why should a Governor completely neglect and disregard the burning issues in his State that are desperately seeking for attention, to go make such lavish donations of his State’s public funds elsewhere.
I find it appalling, and a complete misplacement of priorities, that Governor Wike’s N500million pledge, which is apparently done on behalf of the Rivers State government, is coming at a time his administration is yet to address and resolve the lingering dispute over the non-payment of pensions and gratuity to thousands of retired Rivers State civil servants in the oil-rich state. Should we call it some sort of show off or what? Mind you, Wike’s legitimate salaries and allowances as a Governor for eight years is not enough to raise N500million. So, where is the money going to come from? Obviously from Rivers State Government public purse! That makes it more annoying.
Again, the said Wike’s pledge and donation is coming at a time when there are several reports of Pirate attacks on Bonny areas and the people of Bonny Island, which is regarded as a major oil hub in the Niger Delta region. Governor Wike, has done little or nothing to address this problem, which the BBC pidgin has even covered extensively in their report of January 12, 2021. Wike has not even come out to make any statement to condemn these pirate attacks and their evil activities in Bonny sea and Bonny Island.
So, to now see him dishing out donations in Sokoto, just few days after the Shehu Shagari Modern Market in Sokoto (popularly called New Market), was destroyed by an early morning fire, makes one wonder what is wrong with the Governor?
Not that I am against his making donations to Sokoto State to help the victims of the fire incident, but one would have expected the Rivers State Governor to have before now, addressed the above stated two pressing issues in his State. Particularly the lingering dispute over the non-payment of pensions and gratuity to thousands of retired Rivers State civil servants. How can civil servants that have given 35 years of their lives in the service of the State, be deprived of their pensions and entitlements? Yet, the Rivers State Governor is going to make such huge donations in Sokoto. I believe if he must make such donations, it should be from his private pocket, and it should be done discreetly without the whole publicity. That is the way I see it.
Zik Gbemre.
January 21, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
When I recently read reports that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has pledged to donate a whopping N500 million for the rebuilding of a burnt market in Sokoto State, I cannot help but wonder if some of our Governors in the South-South actually understand what it means to set their priorities right in governance. This is so because, I really don’t understand why should a Governor completely neglect and disregard the burning issues in his State that are desperately seeking for attention, to go make such lavish donations of his State’s public funds elsewhere.
I find it appalling, and a complete misplacement of priorities, that Governor Wike’s N500million pledge, which is apparently done on behalf of the Rivers State government, is coming at a time his administration is yet to address and resolve the lingering dispute over the non-payment of pensions and gratuity to thousands of retired Rivers State civil servants in the oil-rich state. Should we call it some sort of show off or what? Mind you, Wike’s legitimate salaries and allowances as a Governor for eight years is not enough to raise N500million. So, where is the money going to come from? Obviously from Rivers State Government public purse! That makes it more annoying.
Again, the said Wike’s pledge and donation is coming at a time when there are several reports of Pirate attacks on Bonny areas and the people of Bonny Island, which is regarded as a major oil hub in the Niger Delta region. Governor Wike, has done little or nothing to address this problem, which the BBC pidgin has even covered extensively in their report of January 12, 2021. Wike has not even come out to make any statement to condemn these pirate attacks and their evil activities in Bonny sea and Bonny Island.
So, to now see him dishing out donations in Sokoto, just few days after the Shehu Shagari Modern Market in Sokoto (popularly called New Market), was destroyed by an early morning fire, makes one wonder what is wrong with the Governor?
Not that I am against his making donations to Sokoto State to help the victims of the fire incident, but one would have expected the Rivers State Governor to have before now, addressed the above stated two pressing issues in his State. Particularly the lingering dispute over the non-payment of pensions and gratuity to thousands of retired Rivers State civil servants. How can civil servants that have given 35 years of their lives in the service of the State, be deprived of their pensions and entitlements? Yet, the Rivers State Governor is going to make such huge donations in Sokoto. I believe if he must make such donations, it should be from his private pocket, and it should be done discreetly without the whole publicity. That is the way I see it.
Zik Gbemre.
January 21, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes