Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna Central, has criticized Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for declaring a public holiday and closing the state's businesses in response to Bola Tinubu's visit.
Wike was criticized by Sani, who claimed that the governor was acting out of "desperation for favors."
In order to encourage residents of the state to turn out in large numbers to welcome Tinubu to the state, Wike had declared Wednesday, May 3, a public holiday in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday.
The governor of Rivers also mandated that all establishments on the Rumuola to Rumuokwuta roads in the state's Obio/Akpor Local Government Area remain closed on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He gave security and labor unions instructions to enforce the closure order.
Sani, however, criticized Wike's action in a post on his verified Twitter account on Wednesday and urged the incoming president to discourage similar behavior to prevent it from becoming the norm.
Sani wrote, “Commissioning a project is a mark of a great achievement. Kudos. But grounding the economic, social & educational activities of the state for that purpose is a mark of desperation for favours & accommodation by a lickspittle. Tinubu can say no to that or else it becomes the norm.â€