Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, denied Abia and Benue states loans meant for their development because their governors supported the call for Iyorchia Ayu to resign as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s national chairman.
In a statement Wednesday, Wike’s media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, said the governor stated this Tuesday at Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia Sate – Ikpeazu’s country home – during the 58th birthday cerebration of the Abia governor.
Promising to make known the identities of those who stopped the loans much later, Wike revealed the states were denied the loans because their governors are his allies, adding that it is the right of every state to access loans from the CBN.
He said: “I will tell you very soon how money that was supposed to come to Abia state for my friend to use to develop Abia State was stopped recently by those who think they own this country, by those who think Ikpeazu did not support them. Because Ikpeazu supported me, they went and stopped Abia State from getting the money they are supposed to get to develop Ariaria market.
“Okezie Ikpeazu is just governor of Abia State. He is not the owner of Abia State. He is just a symbol of Abia State. Anybody who fights Abia State, you’re not fighting Okezie, you are fighting the people of Abia.
“I will tell all of you how Abia and Benue states were denied the money that every state had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“I got it (CBN loan). Anybody who dares to stop my money knows I will not take it from them. You can see how people are wicked. They are not in office yet, but they are fighting people, stopping state money.
“Even as we have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, he has never stopped our money any day, never.
“Let me tell all of you here; let me use the opportunity and Nigerians will hear. I never told him I will say this. Why would some people think some of us are not Nigerians, some people think some of us are slaves? We would never be slaves. I will never be a slave to anybody.”
