Nigerians’ Facing Hardship, Hopelessness May Not End Soon – Rivers Governor, Wike Spills

Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State has warned against the rapid growth in the aspect of corruption and the current state of insecurity in Nigeria, which are faced by millions of Nigerians and that may not end soon.

The Rivers state Governor, however, called on the Supreme Court to let out the case as a matter of urgency which concerns the collection and distribution of value-added tax generated from the state by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This is coming in commemoration of the 62nd independence anniversary of the country held at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt, capital city of Rivers State on Saturday, he appealed.

Wike explained that such urgency that the case requires and eventual ruling in favour of the state would further add more financial resources that would benefit and accelerate the economic growth of the state.

According to him “We have also not given up in our determination to right the injustice associated with the collection and distribution of value-added taxes generated from the state by the Federal Government just as we again call on the Supreme Court to, please, treat this matter with the urgency that it requires,”

The Rivers governor furthered that since emancipation democracy in the year 1999, Nigeria had continued to witness deliberate constitutional distortions of resources, backwardness, institutional weaknesses and widespread corruption has eaten the country in the major aspect. He added that such illness had prevented Nigerians from enjoying a robust democratic practice throughout the democratic system.

“This is not to say that Nigeria has not made any progress as a nation. Certainly, we have achieved some visible developmental strides and economic progress as Africa’s largest economy. The fact that we have remained together despite the recurrent conflicts and crisis of confidence is also worth celebrating as an achievement.

“But, after 62 years, Nigeria deserves more than what it has achieved and Nigerians likewise deserve much more than what their leaders have delivered to them with the country’s enormous natural and human resources,” Wike said.

“Life is sacrosanct, but the present Federal Government has failed in the most basic duty to the nation to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Under their watch, infrastructure across all sectors, including roads, education and healthcare has collapsed. Tertiary education has remained comatose for over seven months and with no employment opportunities, the Federal Government continues to toy with the future of the youths.

“And with compulsive corruption, insecurity, low export earnings, protracted forex crisis and an economy so close to bankruptcy the untold suffering and hopeless future among Nigerians will continue if something is not done to improve the quality of political leadership in our country,” Wike added.