Heated Reactions as Wike Gifts Artistes at Burna Boy’s Homecoming Party N10m Each Despite Owing Salaries
- Governor Wike has come under "attack" by Nigerians after pledging N10 million gifts to all the artistes who performed at Burna Boy's Homecoming Concert
- Many wondered why the governor would dole out such a huge amount as gifts when teachers in the state are being owed salaries
- The Homecoming Concert was reportedly organised by the Rivers state government in honour of Burna Boy who has just won his first-ever Grammy award
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Damini Ogulu, AKA Burna Boy, Nigeria's Grammy award-winning singer, staged a homecoming concert in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, on Saturday, March 27.
Burna Boy made history on Sunday, March, 14 when he won his first-ever Grammy award. His 'Twice As Tall' 2020 album won the 'Best Global Music Album' category in the 63rd Grammy Awards.
The homecoming concert was reportedly organised by the Rivers state government to honour him over the global achievement.
Source: Twitter
The highlight of the concert, however, was Governor Nyesom Wike's promise to give all the artistes who performed at the event N10 million each.
According to BBC Pidgin, other artistes who performed alongside the Grammy-winning singer at the concert which took place at EUI Event Centre, Sani Abacha Road GRA, Port Harcourt, include Duncan Mighty, Timaya, Omah Lay, and Nissi.
The footage where the Rivers state governor made the promise has gone viral on social media as many Nigerians criticise him for spending such a huge amount on the musicians while he allegedly owes teachers' salaries.
It was also gathered that Governor Wike gifted the Grammy-winning artiste a piece of land and money to develop it.
Legit.ng collects some of the reactions below:
Daddy D.O, @DOlusegun, said:
"When they say Buhari is not working. This is what they mean. They miss the government of share the money which is why @burnaboy could not politely ask Wike to use that money to pay the five-year unpaid salaries of teachers in demonstration schools in Rivers State"
AdewalePresh, @sarcasm_presh, tweeted:
"Omo Wike promised N10m to everyone that performed? If only 10 people performed that is 100m o
Things 100m can do:
• Pay unpaid salaries
• Build infrastructure
• Buy weapons to tackle insurgency
• Roughly 5k for each citizen
"But entertainment is more important than survival"
TallJohn, @JohnFanimokun, said:
"This is the reason why they can never like Buhari. Kudos to Emperor Wike for teaching Bubu how to spend taxpayers money DiLiGeNtLy."
The Godfather JP, @AyoOyalowo, said sarcastically:
"Wike for President ... who needs "stupid" trains and "nonsense" infrastructures when you have a "generous" Father Christmas?"
ADEMOLA, @RajiDraj, said:
"Burna Boy and the rest of the artistes will collect N10M each from Wike and celebrate it here. Next day they will tweet about lack of infrastructure and focus on Lagos State. Have they ever ask Wike about End SARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry?"
Iyalaya, @lollylarry1, said (referring to Nigerian youths who participated in the EndSARS protest):
"They were angry during EndSARs protest and they wanted to end bad governance. Few months after, Wike wants to give them 10 million naira each and they all hailed him.
"Majority of their online warriors are also silent. Was the protest really about bad governance?"
Wale Adetona, @iSlimfit, said:
"The impulse gifting by Governor Wike is so unnecessary for a state that has failed to pay gratuity & pension."
OTUNBA, @ManLikeIcey, said:
"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."
UNCLE AJ, @UNCLE_AJALA, commented:
"Few weeks ago, some teachers protested for lack of salary in PH, Wike that couldnt them, gave N10m to Burna & other artistes.
When you see the way those artistes reacted to the N10m, it's obvious that many are complaining about politicians, bcos they're not getting their own cuts"
Aproko Doctor, @aproko_doctor, said:
"We have governors who make impulsive "beer parlor" decisions rather than solve actual problems.
"That's why a governor who has been owing teachers will lavish millions of taxpayers' money on celebrities.
"I hope we get leadership right in Nigeria."
250 teachers in Rivers state protest, demand five-year unpaid salaries
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that teachers of primary and secondary schools in Rivers state government-owned tertiary institutions raised the alarm that they have not been paid their salaries running for five years.
They alleged that their salaries were stopped on February 18, 2016, by the Nyesom Wike-led administration.
According to them, a government directive was issued that the names of the affected teachers be expunged from the state government salary voucher.
Source: Legit.ng
