Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that deliberate efforts by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to de-market the state are counter-productive to the interest of the nation.
Wike, who spoke at the weekend during a dinner organised for the contestants of Miss University Africa Beauty Pageant at the Government House Port Harcourt, lamented what he described as unnecessary acts of sabotage by agents of the APC when it comes to hosting national and international events in the state.
He said: “If you de-market Rivers State that produces the wealth of the country, then you are de-marketing Nigeria.
“The fear they have is because we are performing while they are not. They don’t want the world to see the transformation taking place here”.
He specifically cited the efforts allegedly made to stop the African Wrestling Championship from holding in the state and the alleged plots to stop the Minister of Sports from participating in the just concluded Governor Wike National Wrestling Championship.
The governor said that Rivers State was open to investors as his administration has created the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
“We are willing to partner with investors in the areas of agriculture, skills development and other key areas”, he said.
The governor also noted that the contestants for the Beauty Pageant from the 54 countries of Africa were the greatest marketers of the state, saying they would continue to promote the state long after the competition.
While urging the contestants to focus on education, Wike said women had the capacity to compete in all human endeavours. He said under no circumstance should women beg for placements as they had the requirements to struggle and win political and economic contests.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Miss University Africa Beauty Pageant, Mr Taylor Nazzal said the pageant would project Rivers positively to the entire continent.
He lauded Governor Wike for creating unity in diversity by hosting African Queens from 54 countries.
|SUn