Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has informed the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike that he owed him nothing, but that “you have to lobby me to collect” project funds.
He said this on Wednesday in Rivers in a reply to Wike’s demand for refunds of N80 billion expended on federal projects undertaken by the state, during the inauguration of the Rumuok- wuta/Rumuola flyover in Port Harcourt.
Wike had told the visiting president-elect that the debt was incurred for the construction of the flyovers which are of benefits to the people of the state.
“Unfortunately, these projects are Federal Government’s roads. We don’t want our people to suffer. I believe the Federal Government should say ‘let us refund these monies’.
“I assure you, as you enter office and approve to pay these monies back, other states will also do same thing. So that is the first request we are making to you,” Wike had said at the ceremony.
In his reaction, Tinubu commended Wike and the people of Rivers State for their support to him during the election and his response on Wike’s demand, former Lagos state governor said: “On the demand you made for refund, I owe you nothing. It’s your road. You’re the one living on these roads. I commend your efforts. You have to lobby me to collect.
“You are making people happy. I can see the excitement on the faces of the people, especially with the newly constructed flyovers. I commend your efforts.”