The Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) sensitisation rally put together by the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) to enlighten the pubic on the importance of the PVCs, last Wednesday, held at County State School Field, Emiligbam, Abua Central, headquarters of Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, with the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sir Siminialayi Fubara, justifying the party’s strategies for the 2023 elections.
The rally, which attracted people from various walks of life, including the core of Abua political elite and stakeholders, featured gyration by GDI members across the 13 wards in the area.
The sensitisation programme also witnessed solidarity speeches by political leaders from Abua/Odual LGA and GDI President-General, Hon. Bright Amaewhule.
Fubara, urged GDI members, especially the people of Abua/Odual to continue to sensitise and educate their people on the need to register and collect their PVCs to enable them participate in the forthcoming general election.
While commending GDI for the massive mobilisation, Fubara urged them not to allow anybody to deceive them but advised them to guide their PVC jealously to avoid being stolen or misplaced.
Fubara noted that the mammoth crowd that graced the programme showed the importance Abua/Odual people attach to the exercise.
He said that though there exists a so-called “king Kong” in the area, the large turnout of people had conquered him.
Fubara urged those that are yet to get their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to utilise the remaining days to ensure that they register and key into the SIM project to simplify governance in the local government area.
“The only thing you need to do is to secure your PVC. You should also ensure that those that have not registered should utilize the remaining days to do so.
“You should not be afraid, what happened in the previous election will not repeat itself. Just get your SIM, maintain SIM to simplify governance, to simplify Abua/Odual local government once you key into the SIM card.
“Make sure you secure your PVC. We know you get your PVC. Make sure you secure it. The only thing you need to do, which we are preaching is that you must make sure you secure your PVC. Make sure you secure your PVC.Also, make sure that people who have not registeredget registered”, he said.
Reacting to a report that PDP was afraid to contesting election with other political parties in the state which is why it has taken them to court, the PDP standard bearer said when election time comes, people would know which of the parties has large followership and support in the state, describing the statement as false.
Speaking at the rally, Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Amb Desmond Akawor, who is also the state PDP chairman, hailed the people of Abua/Odual for turning out enmasse for the rally.
Akawor, who was represented by the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Benibo George, expressed optimism that the massive turn-out was a clear statement that the people have been adequately mobilised and sensitised.
In his solidarity speech, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Engr Emeka Woke, told the people of Abua/Odual to make use of the time left to register and collect their PVCs.
Woke assured that the state government would not allow the ugly incident of 2019 general election to repeat itself in 2023.
“Let me assure you as a government that the ugly incident of 2019 general election where you mobilised yourself, prepare for the candidate of your choice and you were deprived because of the activities of some leaders who colluded with military officers to deprive you of participation in the electoral process. Let me assure you that that incident will never happen again in this local government again. We will do everything possible to ensure that nobody, not even the military will come and intimidate you in this area. So, be firm and be ready to face the task ahead”.
Woke declared that while Governor Nyesom Wike would not impose his successor on the Rivers people, evidence indicates that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the 2023 governorship poll.
He maintained that the massive infrastructure transformation and good governance Rivers has enjoyed under the Wike administration would make it difficult for any party to defeat the PDP candidates.
The chief of staff made the declaration while reacting to Senator Magnus Abe’s assertion that Rivers people and not Wike, will determine who would succeed him.
Speaking at the GDI sensitisation and mobilisation rally for the continuous Permanent Voters Card (PVC) registration exercise in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, he stressed that the PDP governorship candidate and his deputy would defeat other candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Woke applauded the people of Abua/Odual for their high level of enlightenment and readiness for the task ahead.
He, however, assured that the ugly incident which deprived them of exercising their franchise in 2019, will not repeat itself as the government will do everything humanly possible to ensure that nobody intimidates them.
Woke said: “Let me assure you as a government, that the ugly incidence of 2019 general election where you mobilised yourselves, prepared to vote for the candidate of your choice, but you were deprived because of the activities of some miscreants who collided with military officers to deprive you of participating in the electoral process, will never happen again in this local government area.
“We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that nobody will come and intimidate you in Abua/Odual local government, not even any military officer will come and intimidate you again. So, be firm and be ready to face the task ahead.”
“Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe was quoted to have said that Rivers people will elect our governor and not Wike. I agree in toto with distinguished Senator Magnus Abe because Wike will not impose any governor on Rivers people. It is the duty of the Rivers people to elect their governor,” Woke stated.
“But, it is also important to state that in making that choice, there are some basic empirical factors that will be considered in making that choice. Just a few days ago, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the names of candidates of parties and their deputies.
“In Rivers State, 17 names. It means that out of the 18 registered political parties, it’s only one party, PRP, according to the publication made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, that had no candidate.
“What it means is that Rivers people have 17 persons to choose from who is going to govern them. And from the published names there, I have not seen anyone in that list that will match the calibre and capacity of the candidate and the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP.
“The standard bearer of the PDP, very intelligent, apt, very calculative, a well-known technocrat and a seamless man.”
Woke said ‘Team Wike’ has since 2015 till date fulfilled its social contract with the Rivers people, unlike others who made promises, but reneged on them.
The chief of staff opined that while there are several political groups in the state, “Team Wike” has consistently lived up to expectations in terms of delivery on electioneering promises.
He cited the Kpobie-Bodo road project awarded by the previous administration and abandoned by the contractor and the Saakpenwa-Bori Road, which the second phase, from the Bori-Kono waterside, is ongoing.
“In Rivers State, there are two teams. New Rivers Team, which is Team Wike and the others. Even with the political development of a few days ago, it appears that one other team is trying to metamorphose into another team. But, the important thing is that Team Wike has come to tell Rivers people between 2015 and 2019 that this is what I will do and Team Wike has delivered on the promises.
“In campaigning in 2015, 2019 Team Wike went to Ogoni land, precisely in Gokana and saw an abandoned project, Kpobie/Bodo road awarded by the previous administration to a contractor who abandoned it. Governor Wike promised that he was going to complete the road. He did not only dualise the road, he beautified the road with street lights. That is Team A Rivers.
“Again, Governor Wike saw the need to dualise the Saakpenwa-Bori road because of the economic importance of the Ogoni axis of the state, the need to improve the security of that area, and the need to attract companies to that area in order to create employment. He did not only promise, he dualised the Saakpenwa-Bori Road and today, he is taking that road from Bori to Kono waterside.”
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Contact and Mobilisation of BFO Support Group, Comrade John Davidson, said the group was committed to the campaign being initiated by the GDI.
He thanked state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike as well as the leadership of the party in the state for mobilising grassroots support for the PDP candidates, especially the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Sim Fubara, who he described as a humane and humble politician that will build on the good works of the governor.
“As core loyalists of our principal, Bro. Felix Amaechi Obuah, who has shown us the way, we are stressing out commitment to the party and all its aspirants. There is no room for failure hence our desire to ensuring the success of this campaign initiated by the Grassroot Democratic Initiative (GDI)”.
Other dignitaries, who stormed the successful event are, Chairman of Ogba/Ebgema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Vincent Job, Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Daniel O. Daniel, former Executive Director, Finance and Administration of NDDC, Dr Ogiri; as well as the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who the group hailed for mobilising materials and resources for the success of the sensitisation campaign.

By: Nelson Chukwudi