Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has drawn the battle line with Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the latter’s recent verbal attack on South-South governors.
Wike threatened to deal with Akpabio if he dared speak negatively about Rivers State, insisting that Akpabio had no authority to talk about his state.
The Governor, who spoke on Friday when he inaugurated an office complex his administration built for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Port Harcourt, alleged Akpabio was behind a recent publication by militant groups asking the South-South to account for N55trn derivation money.
The new three-storey TUC building has a 500- seater auditorium, conference room and fully furnished offices.
Wike said as a Governor, Akpabio carried himself like a god wondering why he failed an ordinary senatorial election if he had performed as a Governor.
Wike said: “It is unfortunate I read what the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akpabio said. I will tell him to talk less. We will tell him that when he was the governor he was acting like a king. There was money that time. The exchange rate was N150 per dollar. Today, it is N500 for a dollar.
“Akpabio had money but he had the temerity to ask South-South governors what they are doing with 13 per cent derivation. Akpabio should not talk to Rivers State at all. He has no such authority. He is not qualified to talk to Rivers State.
“If he wants to talk he should concentrate in Akwa Ibom State or else we teach him a lesson here. Akpabio should know that enough is enough.“If he should talk here I will teach him a lesson. I am not a sycophant and I am not an inconsistent person. I don’t give a damn. He cannot say he sees me in the villa.” (Nation)