If I am owing you, come and defend it before me -Wike tells Doctors

• Wike told River’s doctors to come before him if he is owing any of them
• He lamented that the health sector in the state and across the nation is suffering from a brain drain

Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, welcomed complaints from doctors employed by the state who may be claiming unpaid benefits on Wednesday, saying they must defend such claims in front of him.

At the commissioning of the renal center and house officers’ quarters at the state capital of Port Harcourt’s Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Wike gave a speech to the attending physicians.

The governor acknowledged that the health sector in the state and across the nation was suffering from a brain drain and said that maintaining doctors’ quality of life required a strong focus on welfare.

But Wike questioned the general attitude toward work that permeates the state civil service.

READ ALSO: Again, Wike pledges ‘logistic support’ for Kwankwaso’s campaign

“Of course, everybody will want to give incentives that will make you put in your best. There is nobody who is working who is (not) entitled to allowances, hazards, or debt allowances or whatever you may call it; you are entitled to be paid,” he said.

“But again the truth of the matter remains, (for) some of us who are in the civil service, do we really go to work when we are supposed to be at work?”

“I’m not against anybody earning whatever entitlement. No, I’m not against that. But we should also say, you that are seeking to earn this, in your conscience, have you put in the number of hours that qualifies you to earn these allowances?

“For me, if you know the government is owing you genuinely, not sitting down to work out anything, I will pay. But you must defend it before me o. It’s not just going to bring paper. I don’t believe in that; you must defend it before me.”

In other news, Nyesom Wike said he would soon reveal to Rivers State people his choice of presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

Speaking during the inauguration of Rukpokwu-Rumuapu-Izo-Ogbodo Igwuruta Link Road at Rumuapu, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, he expressed hope that the people will vote for whoever he chooses.

Wike said: “I will tell you where we will vote. These ones (governorship, senatorial, reps, and state assemblies candidates) I mentioned, make sure you come and vote for them.

“Very soon, we’ll meet at our houses and take a decision about where we are going.

“You will work for a party that has come to your aid, a party that has brought dividends of democracy. If the people of Rukpokwu are not happy, will they be here? Governance is all about the happiness of the people.

“When the people are happy, we are happy. So, if I come here to address you everybody will listen to me.”

On security in Rivers, the governor said, “Yesterday (Monday), the Inspector General of Police came and we commissioned the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre.

“I tell all who may be thinking of kidnapping, the time is over. As it is now, in that Intelligence Centre, we will be watching you on screen. Anywhere you are on the road we are seeing you.

“That period is over when you think you will commit a crime and run away.”