2015: Princewill Dares Wike

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Tonye Princewill, has boasted that if he defeated a formidable governorship aspirant, Chief Sergeant Awuse, during the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) primaries in 2007, he could still defeat the Minister of State for Education, Barr Nyesom Wike, if he decides to run for the top job in the state.
Princewill, who said this in an interview in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, noted that he is not intimidated by the presence in the governorship race of Minister of State for Education, adding, “Wike is my party leader, and so, if he decides to run as opposed to lead us, we will cross that bridge when we get there”.
The Princewill Political Associates leader noted that, “in 2007, with all the naivety and innocence of a first time politician, I faced a more fearful character in Sergeant Awuse. He had the entire party structure and yet, I defeated him in the primaries…We are all in PDP. Politics is not for cowards. I want to be David not Goliath. If it is my destiny, I will emerge, if it is not, I will go back to life before politics”.
According to him, “for me, it is governor or nothing. I came to politics to make a difference, not to be part of the status quo. I want to make Rivers State a Dubai, but I need to be given the opportunity”.
He said that he wants to occupy the state’s Brick House come 2015 because, “I know my capacity, I know what I stand for, I know where the state needs to go and I know my team and I can take it there.
“I also know my limitations and the fact that I cannot do it on my own. Whoever will win will need the youths, the women, the business community and the non-indigenes of the state. They would need a united PDP, woo APC members and very importantly, they would need the elders.
“I have the energy and I have the passion. Let the elders and the statesmen allow the younger ones build the bridge and create a Rivers State we can all be proud of. Very few people can appeal to the various age groups, the different political actors, the poor, the wealthy, the indigenes and non-indigenes alike. I know I can.
On his chances of becoming Rivers State governor after Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in 2015, Princewill said, “If I play my cards right, I would be the governor after Amaechi…I had no idea how, I still don’t…It must be divine…Since 2007, my chances have been getting better and better every single day…My destiny is clearly not in my hands. I see people like Wike as assets, not liabilities.”
The Buguma-born businessman-turned-politician said that “Amaechi tried in his own way. I believe he started well. He made an impact, but also allowed himself to get distracted. I will pick my fights a lot better than he has. I will take slaps and beatings, abuses and reprimands all on behalf of Rivers State.
“I will open my doors even wider than he has done and create more opportunity for ideas to shine. In the area of substance, I will do a lot more to create job opportunities for our children through a more improved business climate, a better prepared workforce, a more secured environment and a further decentralized Rivers State. I will choose my friends better and remember always that the priority is Rivers State. That is one of the reasons why I will be selling the Rivers State private jet immediately I assume office.”
He admitted that although the governor and the state government is presently controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), he would not be intimidated, as according to him, “Rivers State is PDP’s to lose and the leaders are way too smart to make that mistake. I don’t think it is an uphill task to defeat APC in Rivers State. It is a task and the PDP team and the people of Rivers State are up to it. APC will not see anything to celebrate in Rivers State come 2015.”
On the frequent clashes between PDP and APC in Rivers State ahead the 2015 elections, Princewill said, “Yes, that worries me. Mr. President has said that nobody’s ambition is worth one person’s drop of blood and we have to re-echo this message down to the grassroots. We have to checkmate this trend fast, before it becomes something else.”
The PDP stalwart stressed that, “Making war is easy; making peace is the one that is hard. I maintain that the type of leader we need, going forward is the one that can bring people together, someone who can work for peace, and has the energy to bring consensus. The winner does not take it all.

L-R: Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, with Taiwan Deputy Minister for Justice, Dr. Chen-Huan Wu, Symposium Chairman, Saul M. Froomkin, Chairman, Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Ahmad Ali, Ombudsman and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Conchita Carpio-Morales and Solicitor-General /Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Barr. Rufus Godwins, at the 32nd International Symposium on Economic Crime at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.