Governor of Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Friday covertly threatened to inflict the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with more troubles, boasting that he will increase the number of his special assistants to 100,000 from the 14,000 he appointed earlier in the week. The special advisers, and other officers were appointed for strategic control of the PDP in all parts of the state under the leadership of the Rivers State Governor.
Wike in a media interaction on Friday, said that the appointment of more special advisers and others was part of his administration’s promise to alleviate poverty and empower the youth. The appointments were coming during crisis in the party. Governor Wike, however, said that advisers will be assigned to go and find what the people are saying before the 2023 general elections so that government can make adjustment. He insisted that it is the responsibility of the government to reduce poverty and empower the youth.
Wike had said: “We met this morning and we are going to increase it to a hundred thousand. They are all Rivers people.
“Is it not the duty of the government to reduce poverty? Is it not the duty of the government to empower its people?
“What are the people saying at the polling booths; are they happy with our government? You go and find out so we can make adjustments before we leave.”
He had added: “If we don’t have the funds to pay, then, it is a problem. For me, information is key. These 319 liaison officers; was it the first time I appointed them? It was there last year. The 40 local government area liaison officers, is it the first time?
“People just forget easily; what I have done is to listen.”
Wike had appointed 28,000 special assistants, 14,000 special advisers for the political units; and 319 ward liaison officers.