Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has defended his hiring of 200,000 Special Assistants on Political Units, claiming that he did so to provide the new hires with meals.
In response to criticism from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the state’s main opposition party, and other stakeholders, Wike stated the appointments were made to keep his commitment to start implementing his strategy of “stomach infrastructure of putting money in the pockets of Rivers people.”
In a statement on Friday, Wike said that taking funds from Rivers State to put food on the tables of Rivers residents was not illegal.
“My mail box nearly crashed before these appointments. People were texting one another, asking why they were leaving them alone because the work was too hard. The work cannot be done by this number.
“As a result, many Rivers residents are volunteering to help with this project.
“I am the one appointing. The shoe knows where it pinches because I wear it. You are not outside because you are not a government employee.
“I know what it takes, and I’m confident that these folks can support me. As I draw to a close, I want to do so successfully.
“Why should that be anyone’s business when I am spending Rivers money to put food on the tables of Rivers people? He posed the rhetorical question, “Is there anything wrong with using your money to buy meals for yourself?”
