Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not give its presidential ticket to any candidate who would serve only the interest of the wealthy few in Nigeria.
The governor said some desperate politicians were already scheming for a candidate who would not serve the interest of the many, rather the interest of just those of the wealthy few.
Wike made the assertion at a grand reception organised in his honour by the people of Kalabari ethnic nationality at the Abalama School Field in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, last Saturday.
The governor was conferred a traditional title of Se-Ibidokibo of Kalabari land (He who does good things for Kalabari people).
The installation was performed by the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Gboko Desreal Bob-Manuel.
The governor said, “No amount of gang up can make PDP to give somebody who will want to run election for the interest of some big men, and not for all Nigerians.
“Anybody who wants to be candidate of PDP must be candidate for the interest of Nigerians.”
He expressed concern over the fact that some companies in the country continue to post annual financial profits regularly in a struggling national economy to the detriment of the poor.
Wike said that such profits, invariably, shared only by the rich, make them to get richer, while the majority of the population of the country, who are poor, gets poorer.
He reiterated that the stakeholders in Southern Nigeria would soon make a declarative statement concerning 2023 presidential election.
“The day the South will speak, Nigeria will shake. We believe in the unity of this country, but nobody can threaten us. Nobody should threaten us. We believe in the unity of Nigeria, and unity of Nigeria must continue.”
The governor lampooned Rivers politicians serving in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for their gross inability to attract Federal Government projects to the state.
Concerning the next governorship of Rivers State, Wike said anybody was entitled to aspire to be the next governor, but such person must show capacity for that office and well-disposed to protect the interest of the state.
He told Kalabari people, specifically, that they have not done well in terms of loving themselves and working in unity.
Wike said it was only a united people who can speak with one voice that can stand up to make demands, and therefore, urged them to put their house in order.
The governor announced the extension of dateline for the completion of the Trans-Kalabari Road phase one project by two months owing to the man-hours lostduring the period workmen were kidnapped on the site.
He disclosed that if the finances of the state improve, his administration may award the phase two of the Trans-Kalabari Road before he leaves office, next year.
The governor, while cancelling the contract for the reconstruction of Kalabari National College due to foreseen politics, announced the release of more fund for the Maryhood Girls Secondary School in the area to speed up its completion.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Rivers State Elders’ Forum, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba explained that the grand reception was significant for two reasons: its critical importance to them as a people and also because of the unity of purpose engendered among them under the Wike’s administration.
He said it was that kind of reception organised for prominent sons and friends who have impacted Kalabari people.
Anabraba noted that Wike has systematically fulfilled all promises made to them, including those of development projects and appointment of Kalabari people into his administration.
He listed some of the projects completed or ongoing to include the phase 1 of Trans -Kalabari Road project other administration promises but failed to execute for over 17 years, the rehabilitation and equipping of zonal and general hospitals, secondary schools, Abonnema Ring Road, sandfilling in Obonoma, Abonnema, Bakana, Oboama, and Abalama communities.
Also speaking, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs said that Kalabari people have enthusiastically and with relentless vigour, contributed to the growth and development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
It follows, therefore, according to him, that it was appropriate, and should be considered right thing for Kalabari people to expect return for the dues they had paid.
On his part, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs said the people were expecting Wike to also ensure that Kalabari people were brought out from the political wilderness in 2023.
A human rights activist, Ann Kio-Briggs noted that Rivers State, though a complex place to govern, does not mean that the people do not love each other.
She, however, harped on greater unity among the people while urging Wike not to relent in what he was doing for Kalabari people, the state and the region.