Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has told the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, not to expect votes from the state after Atiku had allegedly disrespected him.
The governor said those who disrespects Rivers and its electoral importance do not deserve its electorate to vote for them or their candidates in the 2023 general election.
As contained in a release by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, Governor Wike made the assertion during the inauguration of the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He alleged that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar picked people from the state as members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council without any input from him.
The governor said, by the action of the PDP presidential candidate it “means that they do not want the state to be part of what they are doing.
“The presidential candidate entered and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself on them?”
Wike further said: “I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers and go and choose those who are enemies of the state, without the contribution from us.
“So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the state; the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.”
Governor Wike decried how Rivers State had been treated in the past despite the bulk votes delivered to the PDP since 1999.
According to him, people cannot continue to demand for Rivers votes and yet be unwilling to accommodate its interest.
“Politics is a game of interest. If nobody accommodates the interest of Rivers State, then we have nothing to do with such people.
“If you say that you have no interest in Rivers State, it will not have your own interest. It is only those who like us that we will like.
“I have told people who care, Rivers State has voted PDP since 1999. Of this support we have given since 1999 till now, can you mention one thing that we have gotten in this state? Can you mention one road that we have gotten?
“All they care is to ask for Rivers State votes, after the votes, you push us aside. That will not happen again,” Governor Wike said.
The governor told members of the Rivers PDP Campaign Council to have a different mindset because the strategies to be adopted for the 2023 elections will not be like what they had known.
He stated that Rivers P had done well for the people, with such feat attested to by President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that this has made it more difficult for any party to have a chance of winning the election in the state.
Governor Wike boasted that Rivers State is the envy of other states because of his remarkable achievements in office, which he said will be beneficial to all PDP candidates in the state during the campaigns.
The governor said he has directed the release of N50 billion to contractors handling projects in the state to enable then speed up work.
He assured that more projects, such as the Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnosis Treatment Centre, the 8th and 9th flyover bridges, phase one of the Trans-Kalabari Road, Saapkenwa-Bori-Kono Road, among others, will be inaugurated soon.
In his response, the alternate chairman of the Rivers PDP Campaign Council, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, said they have accepted the assignment given to them and are determined to do their best to deliver the consolidation team of the New Rivers Vision.
He said the transformation that Rivers State has experienced under Governor Wike since 2015 has further endeared the PDP to the people, adding that this has given the party a head start above other political parties.
And without resting on their oars, Anabraba said the members of the council will work hard to deliver all 32 candidates of state House of Assembly, 13 members for House of Representatives, the three senatorial candidates and the gubernatorial candidate in the state.
On his part, sate chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, described the day as the start of the process of bringing on board a new team of leaders in the state.
Akawor said he will confidently navigate the 23 local government areas of the state, showing the people the completion certificates of projects that Governor Wike has delivered in those areas as a proof of what the new team shall continue to do for the state.
