Wike On Track, PDP Assures…Urges Support For FG’s Reforms …Wants Politicians To Uphold Rivers Interest

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo (right), wife of the former Minister for Transport, Mrs. Alali Sekibo, her husband, Chief Abiye Precious Sekibo (2nd left), and the Acting National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, celebrating with the Sekibo’s family, during their thanksgiving service at Wesley Methodist Church, Harbour Road, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

A chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Chief Ajubo Tamuno Ajubo, has dismissed claims that Governor Nyesom Wike has failed in providing purposeful leadership to the state.
Ajubo made his views public at a media interactive forum organised by the Silverbird Communications at the weekend in Port Harcourt.
Despite the recent tribunal judgement, he submitted that Wike has shown zeal and determination by carrying out people-oriented projects that have led to the rehabilitation of over 70-kilometre of roads since assuming office on May 29.
Apart from that, Ajubo argued that Wike started his administration on a clean slate since the immediate past government did not formally hand over to him, and has done well thus far.
“Now, under the circumstance he assumed office, nothing was handed over to him, and no documentation and nothing at all was given to him. He started from the scratch”.
This situation, he explained, was what compelled Wike to start fresh reforms and programmes to reposition the civil service and other arms of government.
The PDP chieftain also recalled that apart from the civil service that was politicised by the erstwhile administration, the courts, and the assembly were shut down, but Wike came, and reopened them.
He, therefore, called on the citizenry to be patient with the Wike-led government as it puts enabling structures on ground to drive the state forward.
Responding to why the governor has not appointed new set of caretaker committees for the LGAs and commissioners to join his cabinet in the state, Ajubo declared, “in the next few days or weeks, the caretaker committee chairmen and members will be appointed.”
Ajubo further explained that Wike was taking his time to appoint commissioners, to get the best for the state, but added that for the meantime, the Permanent Secretaries can help in driving the state until a complete state executive council comes on board.
On the way forward, the PDP chieftain expressed hope that the judiciary will uphold the governor’s election, as he said that the animosity among politicians in the state has diverted the focus of the leaders out of the vision of the founding fathers.
He further emphasized that, “the intensity of politics in Rivers State, the tension and everybody showing interest in politics is because of its primordial source of livelihood to Rivers people. Apart from the civil service, currently, Rivers people have nothing else to do; our flora and fauna have been destroyed by oil exploitation”.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has renewed his call on political opponents in the state to shun political bitterness and join him in moving the state forward for the interest of Rivers people.
Wike made the appeal while speaking at the thanksgiving service in honour of the former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo at the Wesley Methodist Church, Harbour Road, Port Harcourt.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the present administration has always extended its hands of followership to all political opponents for the overall interest of the state.
“We all are Rivers people. We have to help to develop our dear state and work for the good of Rivers people,” he asserted.
The state chief executive, who expressed delight that the thanksgiving service attracted people from different political affiliations, urged them to join hands with the Rivers State Government to move the state to the next level, and thanked God for sparing the life of the former transport minister and one-time secretary to the state government, noting that his miraculous healing would remain a testimonial of God’s abundant grace.
Wike, therefore, prayed God to continue to sustain Sekibo to enable him deliver more services to humanity.
The celebrant, Dr Abiye Sekibo, who narrated his encounter with Jesus Christ on his sick bed, described his healing as miraculous because the situation was critical.
He recounted the remarkable role played by Governor Nyesom Wike while he was undergoing treatment abroad, and also thanked members of the Methodist Church, the knights and their ladies as well as political friends and associates for their support that facilitated his quick recovery.
In his sermon, Rev. Joshua Unyeawaji Robert, described the recovery of the celebrant as an act of God for him to accomplish his mandate on earth, noting that God has shown that He is the healer and deliverer of man.
In a goodwill message, the Council of Knights represented by Prof Roselyn Konya, noted that the miraculous healing of Sekibo was enough reason for him to focus more on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The thanksgiving service attracted former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Austine Opara, former governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, serving and former senators,  Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, and some members of the APC.