Sheriff, Fayose blame APC for Nigeria's economic

.....Military invasion of Rivers community due to desperation for power - Wike

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, governors Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose of Rivers and Ekiti states have attributed the present economic woes confronting the country to the promised 'change' by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The trio took turns to berate the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the present national crisis while speaking at a thanksgiving service held in Port Harcourt, on Saturday, to mark the victory of Governor Wike at the Supreme Court.

Both Sheriff and Fayose specifically declared that the present socio-economic situation of the country was reflective of the 'change' promised Nigerians APC. They however commended the Supreme Court for its courageous landmark judgement on the Rivers State governorship legal tussle, saying the entire country had been saved from crisis because of the position of the state in the nation's economy.

They also expressed optimism that PDP would reclaim the presidency in 2019, saying that Nigerians could compare the administrations of the two political parties. Stirring the hornet's nest, Governor Fayose alleged that President Buhari had been making moves to turn the country into an Islamic nation. "There have been subtle ways to islamise the country. Nigeria is a free society. This nation will not be taken as an Islamic nation," he said.

Fayose however declared that Rivers State would not go back to Egypt, saying that APC deceived Nigerians to steal their inheritance but "they are here by chance, they will go by chance. "Rivers State is the soul of Nigeria and it is governed by a man that fears God. Your people will never go to Egypt; you will never go back to Egypt.

I want to appreciate the Supreme Court who was courageous enough to clear the mess. "We have all summoned courage. They have deceived us to take our inheritance. We are going to get our inheritance back. I want to say one thing; they have started again. "I want to reveal one secret here. They have started subtle moves to make Nigerian Islamic nation. But God will not allow it. This was done in 1984, but it failed. "I cannot run away; I am Ayo Fayose. If youhit me, you hit trouble, if I hit you, you will be in trouble. Nigeria is a free nation
and this nation will not be taken for an Islamic nation. Today, I decree the return of a PDP government in 2019.

"Aligning himself with his Ekiti State counterpart and the PDP national chairman, Governor Wike said the apex court was courageous by delivering a judgement that saved the state and the country from imminent collapse. He also said desperation for power was the rationale behind the killing of Ogoni people through an ill-fated military operation last week Monday and Tuesday, but assured that his administration would continue to protect the Ogoni people.

Wike also restated his affirmation that potential election riggers would not be spared in the rerun legislative election, scheduled to take place in the state on March 19, 2016.He said only those in support of political armed robbery were against his declaration that the state would resist attempts to rig the re-run election.

Governor Wike said he would stand for free and fair rerun exercise, asserting that nobody would be allowed to subvert the mandate of the people with the use of the military. He noted that it was the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct credible rerun elections, adding that any of the INEC official who plans to rig the election would pay for it.

"Let me reiterate, if any INEC officer is bent on rigging the rerun elections, let him first tell his wife and children where his will is located because he will be treated as a political armed robber. "I will continue to threaten political armed robbers. I will stand firm against those who use guns to steal votes.

"Popularity is tested on the ground. It is not by carrying army around to intimidate voters. As your governor, I don't carry army around,” he said.

The governor also assured that no matter the number of soldiers introduced into the state, the people would protect their votes and that PDP would emerge victorious in the rerun election.