Featured
Wike Promises To Unveil Preferred Presidential Candidate In Jan …Says 2023 Election’ll Be Used To Retire Many Politicians
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that the decision on which presidential candidate to mobilise votes for in the forthcoming 2023 general election has been taken, and will be revealed in January, 2023.
Wike spoke at the inauguration of the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu Flyover (10th flyover) in Rumuokwurusi Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, yesterday.
The governor assured that, from January, 2023, he would first embark on a state-wide campaign tour to tell Rivers people who they should vote for.
Thereafter, he explained that he would undertake a nation-wide campaign tour to tell Nigerians the most preferred presidential candidate requiring their votes.
He said Nigerians need to know a reliable candidate that they can trust to deliver the needed national transformation with the expected capability, and results.
“So, from January next year, I will campaign to my people who they will vote for. So, all of you who have been in suspense, who have been saying all kinds of things, abusing me, wait, January has come. Not only will I tell them where they will vote, I will move from state-to-state, and tell them why they should vote for the people I think they should vote for. Nothing will happen.”
Wike pointed to the ills some persons have caused with their political inconsistency, associations and philosophy, and wondered if they can, in good conscience, say they have been fair to Nigerians, and fit to lead them.
“Those of you who have never been stable, you move from PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) to there, and you move from there back to PDP. Those of you who campaigned in 2015, telling Nigerians if they vote for PDP, they are voting for insurgency. If they vote for PDP, they’re voting for corruption.
“Wait, all of us will reply. We will tell Nigerians this thing that you said, how far now. Where do you still stand now? Is it the same PDP or a new PDP?”
Wike insisted that going into an election and winning the needed victory was beyond mere appearances on television shows, casting aspersions on others and talking big.
“So, all of you appearing on television abusing me; don’t waste your saliva again. January has come. All those of you who are telling Nigerians that you used to have 40 shoes, you used to have 50 wrist watches, time has come to convert those shoes and wrist watches to votes. It’s not to be on the podium and raise your shoes high; and raise your wrist watch high. Time has come to convert it to votes.”
Wike also advised some Rivers politicians who now reside in Abuja to know that the 2023 elections would confirm who truly has political influence on Rivers electorate.
He said 2023 general election would also be used to retire these politicians, and urged them to return home and do their campaigns.
The governor said the state government was not opposed to any political party or group holding political rallies.
He reiterated that any party or group planning to use government-owned schools should be ready to pay the non-refundable security fee.
He urged those politicians to stop telling lies and be bold to let their people know what they have capacity to do and cannot do.
“Let me also use the opportunity to advise those of them who said that they are our brothers in Abuja. This 2023 election will confirm to us in Rivers State who are those that have influence on voters.
“Who are those that their people will listen to and vote. It is not only for you to be in Abuja and tell them whatever you’re telling them. Come home because our polling booths are not going to be in Abuja.”
He further added, “This election will retire people in 2023. If they win us, we go. If we win them, they go. In fact, they have already gone.”
Wike also said his administration has established a new political concept that would deepen understanding on how to endear the electorate and secure their votes.
He explained that the PDP in Rivers State would not engage in vote buying, but would depend on the numerous projects executed in all the 23local government areas, consistent payment of pension and gratuities by his administration to win the 2023 general election.
Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr.DakorinimaAlaboGeorge-Kelly said the Rumuokwurusi-Elimgbu Flyover, started on January 28, 2022, was delivered in less than 10 months.
He explained that the length of the flyover was 820metres, has the width size at the descent as 30.65 while at the upper pass, the width is 17.35meters.
George-Kelly said the flyover would ease traffic flow, and serve as alternative route to connect traffic flow to the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The Project Manager, Julius Berger Plc, Engineer Taner, commended Wike for the confidence reposed in the company by the Rivers State Government to drive its urban renewal initiative.
Featured
Rivers Capable Of Delivering Massive Votes For Tinubu, Chinda, Others -Fubara …Charges APC, Rainbow Coalition To Embrace Team Work
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the State is capable of delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda and other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.
Fubara, who stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, said the surest path to victory is for the members of the Presidential Campaign Council drawn from the APC and the Rainbow Coalition to embrace the spirit of teamwork.
He said what the state was witnessing in the current political season is a repeat of the successful mobilization done in 2022 and 2023, when a large campaign council worked in unity to deliver victory for him and for President Tinubu.
He added that the present council is bigger, wider and better coordinated and should therefore achieve even better results.
He noted that the beauty of the new council is the fact that some persons who were in the opposition camp during the previous elections are now part of the team, saying their inclusion has made the task easier, provided everyone works as one team and with sincerity of purpose.
The governor thanked the Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council for Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and other leaders who worked tirelessly to bring the council to fruition, stressing that nothing is impossible especially when people work together for a common purpose.
He expressed optimism that with seriousness and commitment, the state would record a higher number of votes than it recorded in 2023.
Fubara, while congratulating members who made the list, appealed to those whose names were omitted not to be discouraged, as there are still sub-committees to be constituted and the list can still be updated, even as he warned against double loyalty.
He said the state has gone past the stage of division and is now looking to the future and what God holds for Rivers people, expressing confidence that with the strategy already put in place, the APC and the Rainbow Coalition would come out victorious in 2027.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Coordinator of the Campaign Council, Chief Nyesom Wike, while inaugurating the Council, lauded Fubara for finding time to attend the ceremony and other engagements of the Council in spite of his busy schedules.
Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/ Rainbow Coalition, reminded members of the Council that they were chosen based on their capacity to participate in the activities of the group and deliver positive results.
He charged them to work hard to win votes for the candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition for the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly as well as State House of Assembly elections next year.
He disclosed that apart from the Presidential Campaign Council and its sub-committees, the Local Government Campaign Councils will soon be inaugurated to ensure better coverage of the grassroots during the current campaign season.
Featured
RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
Featured
APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow
Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.
This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.
The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.
The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.
President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.
The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.
The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.
The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.
Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.
-
News3 days ago
RSG Reaffirms Commitment To STEM Education, Technological Advancement
-
Business3 days ago
‘NUJ, NPA’s Partnership Would Boost Port Producrivity, Economic Growth’
-
News3 days agoIGP Warns Police Officers Against Partisanship …Directs Regular Engagement With Journalists
-
Business3 days ago
Fire Threat Interrupts Asaba Air Peace Flight
-
News3 days agoCustoms To Deploy AI, Scanners Against Snuggling
-
Business3 days ago
Fish Production Deficit, A Major Investment Opportunity – Minister
-
Politics3 days ago2027: INEC Begins Deployment Of Non-Sensitive Materials
-
Business3 days ago
NCDMB, NLNG Unveil $9m For Professorial Endowment Research Chairs In Six Varsities
