The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the allegations by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike that the nation’s economy and security have crashed under the watch of the governing party.

The party said Governor Wike must be living in denial or suffering from outright hatered for the good works being done by the governing party.

The party maintained that but for the prudency of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, the economy of the country would have been in the woods, while it has continued to address all security challenges with all sense of commitment.

Reacting to Gov. Wike’s outburst in Port Harcourt in a telephone interview, APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Secretary, Senator James John Akpanudoedehe said that the Rivers State helmsman must be living in denial or suffering from outright hatered of the milestone achievements recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration.

He argued that despite the drastic fall in the oil price and the global economic recession, coupled with the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that nearly grounded the whole world to a halt, the prudent management of the economy has kept the nation’s economy moving.

“Nigeria’s economy is not an island. We are been affected by global economic indices. It is on record that our formal and informal economic sectors are still performing, despite the bear zero treasury the PDP government left for us in 2015, but for a man like President Buhari, whose integrity and understanding have helped to keep the economy going.

“You will recall, most states that were unable to pay workers salary were given bail out, including all PDP Governors. It is on record that no government in Nigeria had a robust social welfare package like our administration.

“Today, the United States of America just announced stimulus package, but our economy is still moving, despite global recession, Covid-19 and other challenges. We are doing everything humanly possible to address all the challenges, including the security challenges..

“Much as I will not want to join issues with Governor Wike, I think he should be more matured in his outburst. There is a limit he can play to the gallery. He is winding up as a Governor, he should bring maturity to governance. It is either he is living in denial or suffering from outright hatred that he will be accusing the APC led administration when he knew the damage his party (PDP) wrecked on the nation.

“There are all indices that our economy is on course and sooner than later we shall over come the Security challenges,” the Secretary concluded.

In a story entitled “Security, Economy Have Collapsed Under APC Watch – Wike,” and published earlier today December 23 by The Radiance, Rivers State Governor had asked governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to own up to the party’s alleged failure in the country.

He said everything especially security and economy had collapsed under the watch of members of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF).

A statement signed by the governor’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said he spoke on Wednesday when he led his Oyo State counterpart, Oluseyi Makinde to open the Woji and Obagi roads in GRA Phase 2, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.

Wike said it was ironic for the APC governors to keep admitting worsening insecurity across the country without accepting the failure of their party.

He said the APC Federal Government promised to offer better governance that would ensure safety of life and property of all Nigerians.

But the governor said virtually everything had collapsed in the country adding that in a true democratic setting, nobody would be a proud member of the APC.

He said: “I hear the Progressives Governors Forum saying that there is insecurity. Who is responsible? They should come out openly and say that the party in power has failed. Nigerians gave mandate to APC at the Federal Government level and therefore, they must own up that they have failed Nigerians.

“Everything has collapsed in the country. Security has collapsed. Economy has collapsed. There is nothing working in the country. Today, all over Nigeria, there is insecurity everywhere.

“The other day, in Katsina State, they took about 400. The next day, they said they took 84. Now again they said they’ve taken a village head, the wife and 14 people in Katsina State.

“When there was problem in this State (Rivers), about the level of kidnapping, I shouted but nobody listened to us. They said it was politics and that we were killing APC people. I said when you introduce politics to security the consequences will be great.

“Now, it is everywhere. Until they come to apologise to Rivers State that they are sorry for what they have done to us, then God will forgive all of them.”

The governor said he had not disappointed Rivers people, who gave him their mandate to improve the quality of living, infrastructure and guarantee the security of life and property.

He said he was not tired serving the state boasting that after his tenure he would walk on streets confidently without the protection of personal security guards.

He said: “We are proud because we can come out and say to the people of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Governments this is what PDP has done for you by the projects carried out in these two local governments.

“Also, we can go to other local governments and say look, vote for us. If they ask us why do you say we should vote for you, we will show proofs. Very soon, we go to them and we will be able to tell them, yes, this is what we have done, therefore having done this, if you vote for us again there is the likelihood we will do more.”

Wike enjoined owners of business places and other investors in the state to continue to pay their taxes to enable government provide more quality projects.

On his part, Makinde said with the evidence of Wike’s performance, it would be difficult to convince Rivers people to abandon PDP for another party.

He said: “Indeed, all right-minded people like to identify with progress irrespective of their personal feeling towards the initiator. Development is a big part of our democracy and every project counts towards the overall progress of the nation.

“We are blessed to be leaders at this point of Nigeria’s History where there seems to be reawakening of political consciousness especially among the young people.

“True, we have unique privilege of grooming a new crop of people who will see governance as service. We have remained too long in where people see public coffers as an extension of their personal accounts.

“At the next circle of election in 2023, Nigerians will show that they have learnt something from the event of this year, 2020 and that electoral decisions have consequences.”

On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the two roads, Woji Road and Obagi Road were reconstructed to be 12 meters wide with streetlight.

He said with the reconstruction, the geometric parameters of the roads had changed to offer shorter travel time, vehicle operating cost, less wear and tear on vehicles, and boost the economy.

The Nation