Nigerians attack Wike for promising musicians millions despite owing workers salaries

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has come under attack on social media for promising millions of naira to Grammy award-winning artiste, Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy), and others who performed at a homecoming party for the music star.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Burna Boy, his family members and his management team visited Mr Wike on Saturday.

Speaking during the visit, Mr Wike said when the music star was announced as the winner of the Best Global Music Album category at the 2021 Grammy Award, for his ‘Twice As Tall’ album, the entire state was elated.

A homecoming party, however, took place at Port Harcourt, the state capital, where the governor announced that all musicians who performed at the event would go home with N10 million gift each.

The speech of the governor had gone viral on social media, particularly Twitter.

“Those of you who have come to play, whatever you have agreed with the ministry of culture and tourism is not my business.

“All of you that have come today and the Niger Delta people that have come to play today to show the talent you have, I’m very proud of you. All of you will go home with N10 million each,” Mr Wike said amidst cheers from the audience.

PREMIUM TIMES also discovered that most people at the event including Mr Wike and Burna Boy were not wearing face masks nor maintained social distancing despite the COVID-19 pandemic rocking the nation.

The governor’s donation comes a week after public school teachers protested over five years non-payment of salaries by the Rivers government.

The protesting teachers told journalists that they have lost about ten of their colleagues due to the hardship experienced within the period.

Outrage

Many Nigerians have, however, attacked Mr Wike for what they tagged reckless spending on Saturday. The governor trended on Twitter on Sunday morning.

Wale Adetona, a social media marketer, said: “The impulse gifting by Governor Wike is so unnecessary for a state that has failed to pay gratuity & pension.”

Mr Wike is yet to react to the criticism by Nigerians of his action.

See more tweets condemning the governor’s action below.

Burna Boy has been gifted land in Old GRA, Port Harcourt and money to build by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Wike also promised to give each Artiste who performed at Burna's Homecoming Concert in Rivers State, Nigeria N10 million ($24,411) each. pic.twitter.com/tWwHIVWcoZ

— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) March 28, 2021

This is the reason why they can never like Buhari. Kudos to Emperor Wike for teaching Bubu how to spend taxpayers money DiLiGeNtLy.pic.twitter.com/Fnfo2sXlnI

— TallJohn🌍 (@JohnFanimokun) March 28, 2021

https://twitter.com/BrianJDennis/status/1376076845251182595?s=19

When they say Nigerians deserve the leaders it gets, this is part of why they say that. Gov Wike is so confident and unashamed to be paying artistes from government funds and people are hailing him but turn round and also criticize corruption in the same breath? 🤡 https://t.co/9s7D29kmxr

— ✨👑 DaddyMO👑✨✊🏾 (@therealdaddymo1) March 28, 2021

Lmao Burna boy will come on Twitter to drag politicians, he’ll call them looters and all but see the hypocrite hailing Wike after receiving N10M. Teachers are being owed 5 years salary in the same Rivers State o. pic.twitter.com/xgp7BHfIAI

— OTUNBA (@ManLikeIcey) March 28, 2021

Is this him wasting taxpayer money and getting cheered, or is this going to be from his personal account?

Wike gets away with nearly everything all other governors get angrily criticized for. I wonder why it’s like that?? https://t.co/hVV2iH8K55

— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) March 28, 2021

Not you same insufferable fools who claimed you could get 150 million on your birthday as a governor or the same ones who called security votes their pocket money giving hot takes on how Governor Wike should spend his own birthday money too.

If you don't geddifok from my sight

— Lidocaine 🔆 (@trending_medic) March 28, 2021

Lol Wike is owing workers five years salaries, but he's out here giving gifts to the Sokoto State Government and BurnaBoy, because it's Emperor Wike no outrage. Democracy is not in danger because it's not coming from a certain quarter pic.twitter.com/S5ID2zFcVY

— Commander in Chief, Oduduwa Republic🎖️ (@Joshibirogba) March 28, 2021

Wike o😂😂😂 Daddy Wiks says he’d give all artistes that performed tonight N10m each🌚 That hailing from Burna though 😂 pic.twitter.com/OGBDp4vUai

— Gift 🖤 (@Giftama_) March 27, 2021