TheCable

Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state, says Nyesom Wike, his Rivers state counterpart, cannot be mentioned in the league of true men because he owes “salaries and emoluments”.

The former labour leader advised Wike against squandering Rivers state money on the Edo governorship tussle between Osagie Ize Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oshiomhole said the PDP would surely lose the election, and as such Wike should spare himself the bad investment.

In a statement released by Kassim Afegbua, commissioner for information and orientation, the governor said: “In the circle of governance, where men are truly called men, someone like Governor Wike cannot muster any courage to be called a man when he has continuously held Rivers workers in scorn without paying them their due salaries and emoluments.

“Even though Edo State is not economically viable as Rivers State, we do not only pay our workers’ salaries, we have since increased our workers’ minimum wages from N18, 000 to N25, 000.

“That this salary increase is happening at a time when Governor Wike is lamenting over paucity of funds, should explain in greater details our uncommon creativity and prudent management of resources.

“The last time we visited Rivers State, we were appalled by the plights of Rivers workers whose lamentations Governor Wike has consistently ignored. Our piece of advice to him as a younger brother was to properly guide him so he doesn’t go astray by the temptations of an election that his party is bound to lose.

“Rather than waste Rivers people’s money in Edo State, keep Rivers people’s money for them. He should be reminded that Edo voters are not gullible like voters elsewhere and their level of sophistication would make the September 28 election a smooth sail for the All Progressives Congress. It is our responsibility to caution Governor Wike before he exports his gangsterism to Edo State.”