Members of the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Council and other members of the party, on Thursday, publicly declared their support for President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
This is as the council has alerted the President that the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike ran a kleptocratic government throughout his tenure in Rivers State as governor and urging the President to give close attention to the Minister so as not to cause an embarrassment to his administration.
At a press conference held in Port Harcourt and attended by members of the council and other prominent members of the PDP in Rivers State, the council declared its stance.
It stated that with the elections concluded and the Supreme Court affirming the victories of President Tinubu and Governor Fubara, it was time to unite and support them in delivering quality governance to the people of the country and Rivers State.
The press conference, which was addressed by former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, had in attendance party bigwigs including former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, Chairman of the Campaign Council, Sen. Lee Meaba, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Sir Celestine Omehia, among many others.
The group which was heavily tormented by Wike during the period leading to the 2023 General Elections declared that it stands with the Supreme Court verdict affirming the elections of President Tinubu and that of the State Governor, Fubara calling on all their members to support them to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“As law-abiding citizens and responsible leaders of our party in Rivers State, we recognize the elected President of our country and pledge our full support for the success of his administration, for the benefit of all Nigerians. In effect we subscribe to the President’s efforts at strengthening our economy, fighting insecurity and promoting peace and harmony in our dear country Nigeria”, said Dr. Sekibo who addressed the press on behalf of the former campaign council.
He added; “In the same vein, his Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara was elected democratically as governor of Rivers State and also affirmed by the Supreme Court. As indigenes and critical stakeholders of Rivers State we give our dear governor our total loyalty and support for the progress of our state and through him support the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as we believe that working together, the good and interest of Rivers State will be protected.
With the elections over, now is the time for real Governance for the progress of our state and nation. It is for this reason that we call on all our supporters to give total support and unalloyed loyalty to the Governor of Rivers State and Mr. President”.
The group expressed sadness over what it described as the “foolish actions of one selfish man who believes that more than 7-million Rivers people are his slaves for electing him as their governor for 8 years”, few months after the elections making allusion to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.
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Dr. Sekibo declared; “Our people are not a conquered lot and will never subscribe to the mentality of conquest. We also refuse to be divided along tribal or ethnic lines. Unfortunately, he has consistently abused the privilege that God bestowed on him through the votes of the people by acting against the interest of our state”.
He narrated how the former governor had resorted to insulting a revered leader and former Governor, Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Hon. Justice Mary Odili because they allegedly refused to support his failed attempts to unjustifiably impeachment the duly elected governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“We have nothing against Mr President compensating Mr Nyesom Wike, with the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, however, we owe the president the duty to explain some facts and advise him on the character and machinations of his appointee.
“We wish to let the President know that this appointee, ran a kleptocratic government when he reigned supreme as Governor of Rivers State and may do same at the Federal Capital Territory if the president looks the other way. We strongly advise the president to keep a close watch on the FCT administration”, Dr. Sekibo stated.
He went on to accuse the FCT Minister to have publicly threatened to distabilise the peace in Rivers State saying that the president has the duty to call him to order. “We the Rivers people will not stand by, while an individual will decide that we will not sleep with our two eyes closed. If Wike decides to trouble Rivers people, he shall surely inherit the wind in overdose. All well-meaning Rivers people are calling on and advising the president to call his appointee to others.
“We wish to let the President know that a vast majority of Rivers people are solidly with the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and will not allow an illegal, an unconstitutional assembly of any sort impeach him or disrupt the smooth Governance of our state and cause the breach of the public peace.
“Rivers State is too economically strategic for the nation to be toyed with, especially at a time when our nation is looking to maximize our oil production to meet her OPEC quota. Therefore the peace of Rivers State is of paramount importance to the nation and must be protected at all costs” Dr. Sekibo advised.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE