Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday said he would not impose any governorship aspirant of his choice on the people of Rivers come 2023.
Wike gave the assurance in a statement issued by Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant on Media, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that the leadership of the party would meet to decide who to support at the appropriate time.
Wike however said that he is obliged to ensure that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wins the 2023 governorship election in Rivers.
“One mistake I will not make is to impose somebody. From my experience as a student of history, reality has shown that it is difficult for you to say Joseph is the man I can trust.
”Until you give somebody power and money, that is only when you will know whether that person is trustworthy or not,” he said.
Wike stated that God would not allow someone who will destroy all the remarkable progress the state had made over the years to be the next governor.
”God will ensure that it is only someone who is courageous, firm and ready to protect the interest of Rivers that will succeed me.
“Rivers is a state that so many people have an interest in. It is a state that you have to put your feet on the ground. It is a state that you have to annoy a lot of Nigerians and a lot of Nigerians will hate you.
“But what is important is for you to know is what is good for your people and stand for your people. Do not allow personal interest to sway you against the interest of your people,” Wike stated.
A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress ((APC) in Nigeria and Obanla of lwoland, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun during the weekend had a meeting with President- Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Abuja official residence. Chief Ogundokun who is one of the most respected member of lgbinmo Agba (Council of Elders) was at Tinubu residence alongside Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, Speaker, House of Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila and former Osun State Governor, Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola among others to welcome back the President-Elect and discuss pertinent national issues with him.
Earlier before the visit High Chief Ogundokun, has hailed the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-Elect immediately after his February 25th, 2023 victory.
It would recall that while congratulating the President-Elect in a congratulatory letter made available to newsmen after the victory , the Iwo high chief described Tinubu as a political enigma whose political experience, sagacity and know-how is worth studying.
He maintained that Asiwaju’s presidency will usher in an era of prosperity and unprecedented development for the country. He added that the victory of the former governor in the keenly-contested election is a victory for the generality of Nigerians, particularly the common man.
The letter reads: ‘’Your Excellency, accept my warm congratulations on your victory. I extend my best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of leading our beloved country into an era of prosperity and high hope.
“Your victory at the polls is no doubt a victory for all Nigerians. It is now very clear that you’re a man destined for this challenge of leading at this particular period.
“The victory is reward for hard work and doggedness both of which you exemplify. While others busied themselves with frivolities, you strategized. You worked for this victory and you earned the reward.
Mr. President-Elect, once again I congratulate you. ’’ The elder statesman wrote.
Chief Ogundokun also urged Asiwaju to extend an olive branch to the candidates that lost at the polls and to use his leadership quality to build a government of unity.
Ahead of the March 18,2023 governorship election, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State is staying true to his vow to unseat the incumbent, Dapo Abiodun. The Remo-born politician has so far stood with the people and refused to jettison his ambition in the face of daunting challenges. Having started the game long before many others, the hard working politician has put in plenty of work into the project. Today, he remains one of the few candidates who have toured every nook and cranny of the state. This has positioned him ahead of other candidates in the race because he understands where the shoes pinch, and he understands the problem of each and all the communities in Ogun state. He has proven that he is not an opportunist by refusing to abandon his people even when he was confronted by challenges that would ordinarily swallowed other lily-livered politicians. In the course of his political trajectory he has been able to surmount all the hurdles thrown in his path by his opponents and naysayers. Another cheery news coming from Ogun state indicates that the internal crisis threatening the chances of Hon. Adebutu may have been finally laid to rest, following the public reconciliation with his political arch-rival, Otunba Segun Showunmi. As recalled, Showunmi had earlier challenged in the court the party primary that produced Hon. Adebutu. The foremost politician had always said that he was waiting patiently for the Supreme Court to give judgement on this matter and had always assured his supporters of the eventual victory. However, all of this was laid to rest last Friday when Hon. Adebutu with his loyalists paid a visit to Hon. Showunmi’s residence at his Ibara, Abeokuta, GRA. At the well-elaborated welcome party, Otunba Showunmi urged his supporters to sheathe their swords and work for the success of Hon. Adebutu at the March 18 Governorship election. Showunmi, who was ecstatic, pleaded with his teeming to bury their hatchet and go back to their different polling units to canvass for Hon. Adebutu. “My people, no more war. I am pleading with you to go back home and work for PDP. This coming election is for what concerns you and I. This coming election is for Hon. Ladi Adebutu. He is friendly and accommodating. Do whatever you can do to ensure PDP emerges, there’s no crisis again.” Reacting, Hon. Adebutu thanked Sowunmi for the reconciliation and sincerity. He said further that the journey to secure the party’s ticket as the governorship candidate has been tough, explaining that the party just received the 8th Supreme Court Judgment which has paved the way for him to contest the elections. He, however raised the alarm that moles within have been working against the party to favour the opposition. The governorship candidate disclosed that number of his loyalists who recently joined forces with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have all along being a burden, adding that their exit is a big relief for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Adebutu, who expressed optimism of winning the governorship poll, disclosed that the alleged moles used resources of the PDP to garner votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the recently concluded Presidential election “Some moles within the Peoples Democratic Party, who are pretenders used our resources to work for All Progressives Congress at the just concluded presidential elections. They are burden to us and we try to manage them, offer them financial support every month’, he said. “Their exit is now a relief for us, and they cannot last more than 90 days. Thank God we know them earlier enough and strike them out. PDP is now free. My mission to become the Governor is to repair the state”, Adebutu emphasized. The former member of House of Representatives said those who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join All Progressives Congress (APC), are expired products, that will not last more than 90 days, stressing that their antecedents showed that it’s their habitual characters. A source revealed that this reconciliation is coming at the right time and this would further boost the chance of the former member of the House of Representatives.
Former member of the House of Representatives and Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, has said his mission is to restore social, cultural and economic fortunes of the state if elected governor. Edeoga, who spoke at the weekend, lamented attempts by his opponents, who, according to him, have been fanning embers of disunity among the people, adding that his mission is to heal the state from years of disunity. He said Enugu people are united and share a common cultural bond that cannot be overlooked by actions of desperate political actors. Decrying efforts to pit people of Enugu East zone against their brothers in Enugu North of the state, the Labour Party candidate urged the people to cast their votes for him, stressing that he is the best person “to heal the state of imaginary divisions orchestrated by people, whose only intention is political profiteering.” He said: “It is unfortunate that a number of people have been laying emphasis on what divides us rather than factors that unite us. But I have dedicated my life to making our state better. People are working hard to write imaginary lines of division between and among us; but I am here to blight those lines. “I am from Enugu East Senatorial Zone, and I maintain cultural ties with Enugu North. This peculiar position puts me in good stead, better than any other candidate in this election to see everyone as one and the same. As God had made it, my running mate, Charles Nwokeabia, is from Enugu West. This means that in Labour Party, we have the type of rare balance that gives everyone in every part of the state a sense of belonging. “We do not speak in zones. We speak of the state as one united constituency in need of transformation, and this we are determined to do.”