By Ademola Adeleye
For supporting Governor Nyesom Wike of River state over his call for the resignation of the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied Benue and Abia states loans approved by the Federal Government, InfactNG has learnt.
This revelation was contained in a press statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt following statements made by Wike at the 58th birthday celebration of Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu in Obingwa local government area of the state.
Wike threatened to expose individuals who have been working with the CBN to stop the release of the loan from the bank to the two states.
Wike said: “I will tell you very soon, how money that was supposed to come to Abia State for my friend to use to develop Abia State was stopped recently by those who think they own this country, by those who think Ikpeazu did not support them.
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“Because Ikpeazu supported me, they went and stopped Abia state from getting the money they are supposed to get to develop Ariara market.
“Okezie Ikpeazu is just governor of Abia State. He is not the owner of Abia State He is just a symbol of Abia State. Anybody who fights Abia State, you’re not fighting Okezie, you are fighting the people of Abia.”
The Rivers governor also clarified that the CBN loan was a facility that is made available to every state of the federation, pointing out that Rivers State Government had accessed and secured the loan already.
“I will tell all of you, how Abia and Benue States were denied of their money that every state had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“I got it (CBN loan). And anybody who dare to stop my money, they know, I will not take it from them. You can see how people are wicked, they are not in office yet, but they are fighting people, stopping states money. Even as we have criticized President Muhammadu Buhari, he has never stopped our money any day, never.
“Let me tell all of you here, let me use the opportunity and Nigerians will hear. I never told him I will say this. Why would some people think some of us are not Nigerians, some people think some of us are slaves. We would never be slaves. I will never be a slave to anybody.”
The governor said his allies and himself were only fighting for inclusion where every region will have a sense of belonging in the party.
“So, I have told Ikpeazu to continue to be quiet and be a professor of proverbs. When we went to London, he told the person who called us to the meeting in London, you see this thing happening to PDP now is like that ship that wanted to capsize carrying Jonah.
“So, as the ship was going down, they went to Jonah, who said it’s me, it’s not the ship, and they took Jonah out of the ship. Jonah did not die.
“The ship stabilized. So, why not throw this Jonah out so that the ship can stabilize.”
