Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Wednesday, stated that the credibility and integrity of the Zamfara State counterpart, Bello Muhammad Matawalle is at stake after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

WuzupNigeria reported that Matawalle officially defected from the PDP for the ruling APC on Sunday, barely a month after Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State dumped the party on whose platform he was elected and re-elected.

However, in a statement issued by Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri titled ‘Matawalle’s integrity, credibility at stake – Gov Wike’ on Wednesday, Wike expressed disappointment at Matawalle’s move.

Speaking at the inauguration of reconstructed Rumuigbo, Chief Johnson Amadi, Igbodo, Finima, Rumuopareli, Bauchi, Ohia and Isaac Boro streets in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt on Tuesday night, Wike had said that the preoccupation of any governor who means well for his State ought to be the delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizenry and not to join the APC that has failed Nigerians.

Subsequently, in Wednesday’s statement subtitled ‘…cultists now active in politics’ made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Wike reminded his Zamfara State counterpart of his promises to the PDP in 2019, according to The PUNCH.

He said “People must have respect for themselves. There are things I cannot do for the sake of my children. In 2019, Matawalle said I will never leave PDP. I will never disappoint PDP.

“If I disappoint PDP, I will never have peace in my life. Today, what has happened? Is everything politics? It is not true. Everything cannot be politics. Your credibility, your integrity is important in life. I will never betray my people.”

The governor said only spineless governors and politicians will succumb to threats and blackmail of the ruling APC to join the party or risk persecution.

According to him, only governors who cannot perform that think of decamping to APC, primarily to seek protection from a party that is allegedly fighting corruption.

“A governor invited Mr President (Muhammadu Buhari) to flag off a superhighway of 260 km, and up till now, Mr President has not asked the governor about the highway,” Wike stated.

Governor Wike maintained that curfew imposed in the State in the wake of attacks on security formation will only be relaxed when he receives a security brief from the State Security Council.

“I will not lift the curfew until the security people tell me it is time to call off the curfew. Only criminals complain against the curfew. I prefer to protect life and property,” Governor Wike added.

Former governor of Abia State and senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji, who performed the inauguration of the eight streets, commended Governor Wike for the infrastructural transformation taking place in Rivers State.

He noted that Rivers people are happy with the achievements of the Wike’s administration because the state remains the only place where projects are being flagged off and inaugurated every day and night.

Senator Orji said it was rather mischievous for Peterside and others to peddle lies about the glaring developmental strides of the Wike’s administration.