No State Is Poor In Nigeria – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has come out to say that zoning must be embraced in Nigeria for peace to thrive.

He recently revealed this while delivering a lecture to the participants of the Executive Intelligence Course 14 of the National Institute for Security Studies in Abuja.

According to him, everyone should jump on the zoning train because the moment some people begin to think that this is their own exclusivity, things become a crisis.

He added that no state is poor in this country and it is this over-dependence on the Federal Government that has made some poor.

His words, “When people say zoning is unconstitutional, you know what is called equity? Equity brings peace. Let everybody be part of it. The moment you begin to think that this is your own exclusivity, it becomes a crisis.”

“When you begin to deny some people of certain things, that will lead to insecurity and with insecurity, you cannot achieve sustainable development.”

“Take, for example, when the Igbos are crying to say, ‘look, in appointment, you don’t recognise us,’ what is wrong in listening to them?”

“What is wrong in sitting back and saying, ‘look, we are all one; we want this country to be together, for us to achieve sustainable development? If you don’t include them, some of them will begin to believe that they are not part of the system.”

“No state is poor in this country. It is this over-dependence on the Federal Government that has made some poor. At the end of every month, they send their Accountant-General/Commissioner of Finance for FAAC.”

“Any state that says it is poor is deceiving you by saying that. I keep on telling them, if your state is poor, why do you want to be governor? Your state is poor; you want to run for a second term.”