Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State is fully prepared for the 2023 general elections.
The governor has, however, expressed optimism that his administration will finish strong based on its sterling performance since 2015.
Governor Wike stated these when he paid a new year visit to former Rivers State governor, Dr Peter Odili in Port Harcourt and His Royal Majesty, Nne-Nwe-Eli Emohua XIII (OLO IV), Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse in Emohua respectively on Sunday.
The Rivers State governor told Dr Odili that he remains eternally grateful for the support he has rendered to his administration since 2015.
Governor Wike was accompanied by the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, senatorial candidates for Rivers South East and Rivers East, Senator Barry Mpigi and Allwell Onyesoh, member of the House of Representatives, Ken Chikere and others.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, he urged Dr Odili to pray for seamless transition in the State and for the PDP to win all elective positions.
In his response, Dr Odili said every genuine Rivers person is proud of governor Wike for the honour he has brought to the State as the best performing governor in the country.
He commended governor Wike for fearlessly defending and protecting the interest of the State from existential threats which many didn’t know existed.
The elder statesman assured the governor that he remains committed to the total victory of the PDP in the State in the 2023 general elections.
In Emohua, governor Wike told His Royal Majesty, Nne-Nwe-Eli Emohua XIII (OLO IV), Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse that he had come to the council to formally notify the PDP stakeholders that the party has commenced politicking and ready for the 2023 general elections.
“We are prepared for the politics and elections of 2023. We want to sound notice whether at the local, national and international level that we are now set for this year’s election.”
He commended the king for his unparalleled support of the Rivers State government since 2015.
The governor, who had earlier visited the former Senate minority leader, Senator Bennett Birabi in Yeghe in Gokana Local Government Area, said he is optimistic that his administration will finish strong.
Governor Wike said all the road construction projects being flagged off across the State will be completed before he leaves office in May.
“Continue to pray for us now that our tenure is almost coming to an end. We pray we finish well as we have always hoped that God will allow us to finish well.”
The governor also pledged to construct some internal roads in Yeghe community and Bori.
In same vein, the governor also visited the former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, Ledum Mitee in K-Dere community.
He commended Mitee for sacrificing his legal career in pursuit of justice, fairness and equity for the Ogoni people.
“We have come to wish you happy new year and to encourage you to continue to play your elder statesman’s role of making sure that Rivers State is one, Rivers State works together for the interest of every person. You’re a detribalised Rivers person.
“Nigerians know you as somebody who will always stand for justice, equity and fairness. You have paid the price of standing for justice Everybody knows that if not for what you stood for, you’re one of the shining light in legal profession.”
C’Mitee, in his response said he was elated by the visit and prayed God to continue to give the governor the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the State.
“We feel tremendously grateful to God to have given you the vision and passion for Rivers State.”
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Spokesman, Mr Charles Aniagwu has accused Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike of masterminding the opening of the party’s presidential contest as against popular wish of micro zoning to the South-East.
Aniagwu said Wike influenced the zoning committee headed by his friend and ally Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom to open the contest thinking he could muscle everyone to win.
Speaking on “Prime Time” on Arise Television, Aniagwu who is also Commissioner for information in Delta said the ongoing crisis in the party was caused by Wike’s inordinate ambition to be President.
According to him, Wike’s anger at Atiku Abubakar is misplaced because his friend Samuel Ortom was the chairman of PDP’s zoning committee just before the primary election was conducted and it was not Atiku who made it open for people to just go and contest but Ortom.
“In our quest for peace we have allowed the danger of the single story to persist. When the party set up a Zoning Committee it was headed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and a member of the G-5 Governors.
“The Committee threw the ticket open for the best to emerge and Atiku Abubakar was considered the most qualified to lead Nigeria’s rescue and rebuilding mission.
“Let me now give you a hint, when the issue of zoning was discussed, you know that Ortom was the chairman of the zoning committee.
“Atiku Abubakar was interested in micro zoning to the South East but it was the same Nyesom Wike that frustrated it because he wanted to contest.
“It was not Atiku that made the zoning open to people to just go and contest. In this case, there was a contest between the South and the North, and Atiku was considered by members of the party as the man capable of leading Nigerians out of the woods.
“I think often times we undermine the value of our prayers as Nigerians. From the actions of Wike, you will know that the prayers of Nigerians are working.”
“Because if in just Rivers, you are subjecting everybody to the kind of torture we are seeing which we never saw under military rule, imagine if he is in charge of the military.”
On calls for disciplinary measures against the ‘rebel’ governors, Aniagwu said the party was taking its time to ensure that all avenues for peace and compromise were explored.
“I know many people are wondering why the party is keeping quiet and neglecting the actions of Gov. Wike and others. This is because the party wants to exhaust all avenues of ensuring that these individuals realize that the party have been able to bring them up to speed.
“Without the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); these individuals that are creating these crisis, where will they be? So when individuals begin to progress along this line and think that the rest of us don’t matter, you begin to wonder what their calculation is in any case”.
He said the party would continue to appeal to the G-5 governors to return home and join hands in the rescue mission project.
“We do hope that the G-5 Governors return home but while we await their return we will continue to engage Nigerians because that is where the power resides.
“Our Presidential candidate is very busy interfacing with Nigerians and we will continue to plead with Wike and accord him the respect he deserves as a governor and a great leader in our party.
“The very disturbing economic and security situation in the country is enough for any leader to sheathe his sword and help in taking decisions that can help the country to navigate through the very murky waters.
“That a man suffered defeat in a party primary that was very creditably organized, is one thing to which we don’t understand the extent to which he is taking this fight,” Aniagwu stated.
On Atiku’s meetings with Nigerians, Aniagwu said Atiku would not meet with people to undermine the party and its candidates across the country.
“Atiku meeting with people not to undermine the party and hence we have been campaigning 5/5 from Presidency to the House of Assembly.
“He has made it very clear that he would form a government of national unity, so we will not meet with people with a view to undermine our candidates at any level,” Aniagwu assured.
