TheCable

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, says nobody can come after him because God is with him.

Fielding questions from journalists at the Rivers state government house, Port Harcourt, on Saturday, Wike explained what made him prevent the raid on the house of a judge back in October.

He said he had no personal interest to protect, but was only performing his duty as the number one citizen in the state.

“Nobody can be after me because God is with me. People say there is a high rate of kidnapping in Rivers state… If someone sends you a text message to say there is problem, that her house had been surrounded by some men putting on black,” he said.

“You call the director of Department of State Services (DSS), he didn’t pick. You call the commissioner of police, he didn’t pick, you will be forced to go and see what is happening. I took my security to the place and asked them what they were doing at the place at 1:30am? They said they had orders from above to arrest a judge, and that was a woman.

“Assuming they took her away or kidnapped and killed her, people would have said Rivers is not safe. Do you know the effect that would have had on us? I took oath to protect life and property, it doesn’t matter who.

“I have no business with any judge or anyone for that matter, if there is any crime that you have committed, you face the music. But things should be done in the appropriate manner. You don’t treat a judge as a criminal.”

He also denied the audio where he allegedly threatened an electoral official during the legislative rerun election.

Wike described it as the handiwork of his detractors.

“Have I not said it before that if you come to Rivers to rig you should prepare your will? Have I not said it? So what is it about threatening to kill electoral officials?” he said.

Asked if he held any conversation with an INEC official, Wike said: “Who is the INEC official that I spoke with? They claimed I gave the official money and was asking him where he is from? How can I be asking someone I gave money where he is from?

“What is all this crap? Let them produce video evidence; we have been able to show video of policemen rigging election. What have they done about it?

“The only person I can even speak to as far as INEC is concerned is the resident electoral commissioner (INEC) or the national commissioner, and that’s if I have any report. There were over 2000 ad hoc staff during the election, so which one did I talk to? Which one did I not talk to? Please discard those thoughts.”