It’s my right to choose anyone to commission project in Rivers – Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has explained that he has the right to invite any personality of his choosing to commission projects built by the state government irrespective of political affiliations.

Wike made this clarification follow barrage of criticism by some party’s member over his invitation of members of opposition parties to commission projects in the state.

The governor spoke yesterday when he led the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, to open the Peter Odili Cancer Diagnostic and Cardiovascular Centre in Port Harcourt. He confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari would be in the state to open the Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigeria Law School.

The governor said, presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, and of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso, as well as a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, would be commissioning projects in the oil-blessed state.

Aike said: “Those asking why am I not inviting them to open projects can also invite me to inaugurate in their own place. I have a choice to invite whoever I want to come and inaugurate projects.

“On Wednesday, Adams Oshiomhole will come, Thursday it will be Peter Obi and on Friday President Buhari will open the Nigerian Law School. On Monday, Kwankwaso will come. If you want to have high blood pressure, it is your business.”

According to him, the project was named after Odili, because of his service to humanity as a former governor and a medical practitioner.

“Give me a better reason why I should not name it after Dr. Peter Odili. This is a man who has run one of the best clinics in this state as a medical doctor. This is a man who has served this state as a governor for eight years.

“This is a man, who had refused to join his colleagues in Abuja to form association of former governors so they can be relevant in running around a presidential candidate. He has devoted himself to medical education and still serving the people to see how we can train more doctors and other health officer.”

Wike disclosed that efforts are ongoing to bring experts from overseas to manage the facility, adding that he would not leave such humongous project in the hands of civil servants due to ineptitude.