The Rivers State Governor who was accused of being responsible for an order restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in the PDP primary election ahead of the governorship poll in Edo state lashed out at members of the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who he described as “tax collectors”.

In a statement released by Rivers state commissioner for information and communication Paulinus Nsirim on Tuesday, June 23, Wike queried the NWC for not consulting with governors in the case of Bayelsa state and further alleged that they are blackmailing him.

Wike said “I told them that in Edo State, we must handle the issue carefully and carry everybody along. They must respect human beings and not behave like tax collectors.  They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible. I have had sleepless nights to resolve the issue in Edo state. The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state. As a result of this senseless accusation, I have pulled out of Edo State settlement. My integrity matters. I have also directed my lawyer to write ThisDay Newspaper on the publication they made against me in their Tuesday, 23rd June 2020 edition. I know the members of the National Working Committee of PDP who connived with ThisDay. They are tax collectors. Let them challenge me and I will come out with more facts. Nobody will rubbish me by raising false accusations against me. I will fight back. I am brought up not to accept injustice, and that is why I keep speaking out on national issues. Nobody in PDP can intimidate Rivers State. Nobody can threaten me because I said things must be done constitutionally. I will always continue to satisfy my conscience. From now on, I want to concentrate on the development of Rivers State.”

A statement from Paulinus Nsirim, the state Commissioner for Information, confirmed that Simeon died today Sunday May 17 at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) where he was being treated for an undisclosed ailment.

The statement reads “Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed shock over the sudden death of his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu. He described late Nwakaudu as a loyal and dedicated professional who contributed immensely to the implementation of the Rivers vision. The governor on behalf of his family, the government and good people of the state condoled with the bereaved family. He prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the great loss.”