- Receives decampees from APC
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has mocked the ousted national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, who was said to have danced when the National Executive Council NEC of the party passed a vote of confidence on Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the embattled PDP national chairman.
Governor Wike said the decision by NEC will not dissuade him and others from insisting that the prevailing structural imbalance within the party must be addressed.
The governor spoke at the 11th Hour homecoming and reception organised for decampees from various political parties, who have joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, and was held at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
“I was listening and watching, they said there is one man they call Secondus. They said he was dancing, celebrating that NEC gave their person a vote of confidence. He forgets history.
“Ask him the same NEC through Aliyu Babangida moved a motion of a vote of confidence on the same person, and supported by Ndudi Elumelu. They gave you (Secondus) a vote of confidence, what happened? You left office.
“We don’t fight and go back. If you like you can have as many as 20 votes of confidence, it’s not my business. My business is to make sure the right thing is done, and the right thing must be done. Whether today or tomorrow.”
He said despite the heightening political aligning and negotiations that are going on, his administration has not abandoned governance in the State.
The governor explained that it is the love that he has for the State that has made him remain devoted to providing good governance until the last day of his tenure.
“I’m not going to play party with the interest of my people. Rivers State is paramount to me first before any other person or group.
“So, the eyes can see what we have done. Up till today, we have never abandoned governance. So many people are already rounding up, taking the last they have but yet, we are still committed to commissioning, and flagging off projects.
“Because of the love we have for our people, we will continue to serve you till May 29, when by the grace of God, Siminialaye Fubara will be inaugurated the governor of Rivers State.”
Read Also: PDP Crisis: Wike vows to sustain fight until Ayu vacates chairmanship position
Governor Wike commended the decampees for their courage to rejoin their political family because it is true that there is no other political party that can win election in Rivers State except the PDP.
“PDP is a household name in Rivers State. Let me assure you that we will all work with you. Nothing like somebody who has been there since and somebody who has just come back. The more the merrier.
“So, all of us must put hands together to make sure our governorship candidate, the National Assembly candidates, the House of Assembly candidates, at least from Rivers State, we return them 100 per cent. That’s our primary duty.”
The governor dismissed efforts by other political candidates as mere attempts to appear on the ballot because there is no hope of winning for them.
Governor Wike enthused that the chance of winning that PDP has is hinged on the fact that the party and his administration have served to protect the interest of the State courageously.
“If God gives you the ticket of PDP in this State, go home and sew your cloth for the inauguration day.
“Because what will any Rivers man or woman be saying that he or she wants to vote for any other person in Rivers State?
“As a party, we have kept faith in our people. As a party, we have stood for our people. As a party, we have never allowed intimidation from any quarter and that is what we are talking about, the interest of Rivers State.
“Remember, before I came on board, one state had our property with them. As I came in as governor, with the support and prayer of our people we took all our property back.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike said a new strategy will be adopted for the coming political season in which political ‘bigmen’ will be replaced with people who are domicile among their people in various communities.
According to him, those who are domicile with their people will be utilised to deliver their units and wards during the general elections.
Rivers State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor said the party is presenting a certificate to acknowledge the excellent performance of Governor Wike because he has surpassed their expectations.
Ambassador Akawor stated that the decampees from the other political parties have witnessed the unequalled performance of Governor Wike in office.
He listed the establishment of the Nabo Graham Douglas campus of Nigerian Law School in the State, the Real Madrid Academy and Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases Diagnostics and Treatment Centre among other reputable projects as the reasons why the decampees have returned to the PDP.
Speaking on behalf of decampees from Rivers South-East Senatorial District, a former member of All Progressives Congress, APC Board of Trustees, Dr Sam Jaja said they had a regrettable unsuccessful political expedition while in their former parties, but have retraced their steps back to the PDP on self-volition.
Dr Jaja described Governor Wike as a compassionate, loving and graceful leader who was created to do good for the people.
He pledged their 100 per cent loyalty and stated that they will join the PDP to uplift the oppressed, reengineer the new phase of transformation of the state and help the needy to grow.
On behalf of decampees from Rivers East Senatorial District, Princewill Dike said he was a sad man while he served as chief propagandist for the APC because the numerous developmental strides of Governor Wike were too visible to be a lie.
Speaking on behalf of decampees from Rivers West Senatorial District, former Commissioner for Transportation in the Chibuike Amaechi’s administration, George Tolofari, said they are happy to be back home in the PDP.
Similarly, a former chairman of Akuku Toru Local Government, Dr Theodore Georgewill apologised that they left PDP when they were most needed.
He said they have returned with the assurance that APC is dead, and are determined to deliver 90 per cent of the votes because they believe in the leadership of Governor Wike.
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