Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has urged Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to call to order members of the presidential campaign council of the party and stop them from attacking the G5 governors.
Governor Wike warned that any further attack will attract the wrath of the Integrity Group and together with the G5, they will not hesitate to strike back.
The Rivers State governor gave the warning on Monday at the flag-off of the Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East/West Link Road in Eleme Local Government Area of the State. Former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko performed the flag-off.
Governor Wike stated that the G5 governors are lovers of peace and they believe that all party members should embrace peace so that together, they can work to secure electoral victory for the party in the 2023 election.
“Now, what I want to tell the presidential candidate of PDP is we need peace. We want all of us to be together for the party to win election. But let me say clearly, if your boys continue to attack the G-5 (governors), continue to attack the leaders of our party, we will strike back. If anybody again dares in the PDP Presidential Campaign Council to insult the PDP governors G-5, insult our leaders of Integrity Group, we’ll fight back. Enough is enough.”
The governor also said it is ludicrous for persons who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and abandoned the PDP at its trying moment, to dictate to him and his associates of what to do in the party.
“We want peace. All we want is equity, fairness and justice. Nobody should take us for granted. I cannot understand people who just left APC two days ago, two weeks ago, are talking about PDP that we stayed and suffered to build the party. Even if anybody will talk about us not these miscreants.”
Governor Wike described Yakubu Dogara, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, as a man who can not stand by his word.
The governor remarked that soon, he will reveal content of discussion both Dogara and Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Federal Government had with him at his residence when they visited.
“At the appropriate time I will talk about how Dogara and Babachir visited me and what we agreed. You know what I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time I will challenge them for a debate.”
He recalled how Dogara had evaded an appointment they were to have and surreptitiously left the PDP to join the APC.
“Dogara was to see me. Unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he has gone to APC.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike reiterated that the Executive Order 21 is still in force in the State to protect pubic facility.
He remarked that people had gone to misrepresent the intent of the Order 21 before the Inspector General of Police that his administration was preventing other political parties from campaigning in the State.
Governor Wike told political parties wanting to hold their events within government facilities and schools, to apply and meet the terms.
He said those who are threatening to disobey the Executive Order of the government should be prepared to bear the consequences.
The Rivers State governor explained that request for the construction of the road was made by PDP political leaders from Eleme who are desirous for the development of their community.
Governor Wike urged the people of Eleme to thwart the senatorial ambition of former Nigerian ambassador to The Netherlands, Orji Ngofa, who hails from there for his gross failure to attract any dividends of democracy to the area.
The governor assured the people of the State that PDP governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara and others, when elected, will move the State forward in terms of development.
Performing the flag-off, former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko described the project delivery mantra of governor Wike as phenomenon.
The project in focus, he noted, is part of the different and impressive dimensions in which Governor Wike has continued to deliver massive infrastructure to drive development both in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.
“There is the poverty reduction content. The development of human capital dimension is unmistakeable. The practical manner in which Governor Wike’s focused leadership has enhanced the value of Rivers people, and earned them respect across the land.
“It is that his integrated infrastructure development is one of the greatest catalysts for equitable, bottom-up economic growth. This is inclusive growth; the type of growth that addresses rural poverty in its practicality; not the type that emanates from tortured statistics and dubious metrics.”
Dr. Mimiko emphasized that agitation for responsible management of the country’s diversity, which is at the root of what Governor Wike represents in Nigeria’s politics today, is not a North vs South issue.
He said the clamour for equity in politics brings to the fore the place of identity in a multi-ethnic polity like Nigeria. According to him, to suggest that identity can be discounted in such a context is to be untruthful.
“It is actually a patriotic call for unity based on fairness. Yes, it certainly is not an end in itself, but it is a necessary route to national cohesiveness and inclusivity. It is, indeed, the ultimate destination of responsible leadership and a pan-Nigeria responsive followership – inevitable partners, as it were, in the drive towards comprehensive socio-economic development!”
Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo said the 10.3km Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East/West Link Road is an impactful landmark project that will create an alternative route for road users and boost the socioeconomic activities in the area.
Kelvin Ebiri
Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State governor.
December 5, 2022.
