Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Rivers State Government has denied the reports that Governor Nyesom Wike was unhappy with the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to buy N5billion worth of gold from Zamfara State Government.
The report which has been in circulation on social media, claimed that Governor Wike lamented that the same privileged attention has not been given to the crude oil from Rivers State, while demanding that gold should be made a national cake just like oil and gas.
The report went on to alleged that Governor Wike said he would also proceed to own a gold mine in Zamfara State, just like people from other parts of the country owned oil wells in Rivers State.
But reacting to the report, the Rivers State Government described the report as complete falsehood, misleading and a concocted story by naysayers, who are bent on tarnishing the image of the governor.
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said the governor never made such statement, as the report was a figment of the imagination of detractors to tarnish the goodwill which Governor Wike enjoys across the country.
Nsirim in a statement explained that the report was a calculated attempt by detractors to disrupt the warm relationship between the governor and leaders across geopolitical divides in the country.
The statement reads, “Let us state here categorically that Governor Wike never made such a statement. Infact, we note with a sense of relief, that no mainstream news media carried this concocted story.
“It has indeed become the ugly penchant in recent times, of some cynical and dubious detractors, to drop or insert Governor Wike’s name in their calculated crusade to ignite unprovoked conflict with the hidden ploy to disrupt the recently emerging warm cordiality, which has defined the relationship between him and some leaders across geopolitical divides in the country.
“These naysayers have also commenced a devious gambit to insidiously tarnish the overwhelming goodwill which the burgeoning image and reputation of Governor Wike has been enjoying across the country and this latest story is simply the latest installment of their failed efforts.
“Those familiar with Governor Wike will know that he does not need to resort to such churlish and petty grandstanding portrayed in the silly story, to speak up on any matter whatsoever.
“The write up is thus just another figment of the convoluted imagination of its authors. They goofed big time on this one.
“Nigerians are therefore advised to completely disregard the story, especially now that the Federal Government, the CBN and the Zamfara State Government have all come out to speak clearly on the matter and set the records straight.”