The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State have slammed Governor Nyesom Wike over his decision to appoint 200,000 persons as Special Assistants on Political Units.
It described it as a show of rascality and a tactical ploy at vote buying.
Wike had initially appointed 100,000 aides to his cabinet. However, while inaugurating the new SAs Batch 2 from Rivers East Senatorial District at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, the Governor announced an increase from 100,000 to 200,000.
It was also gathered that the stipends to be paid the new appointees will cost Rivers State N42.127bn.
The move has since received backlashes from some stakeholders in the state.
Speaking further on it, Rivers State Chairman of APC, Emeka Beke alleged that the governor is bereft of ideas, and that the APC would resist every attempt of vote buying in the state.
He regretted that the governor was spending tax payers’ money recklessly, alleging that Rivers was among the states in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s, watchlist.
Beke said: “I think the Governor is confused right now. He does not know what to do again. The governor is just displaying executive rascality.
“This is just a way he is restyling vote-buying. It is a way he wants to use to buy votes. You will also find out that Rivers State is one of the states that wants to pay salary by hand.
“It is pure recklessness for the governor to use tax payers’ money to buy votes and we will resist every of these attempts.”