My Stand On Preferred Presidential Candidate Unshakable, Wike Insists

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that no amount of speculation and unprofitable media talks by people who cannot mobilise 25 votes would make him change his mind on the presidential candidate to support.
Wike spoke at Egbeda Community while flagging off the construction of Akpabu-Egbeda-Omoku Link Road in Emohua Local Government Area, last Wednesday.
The governor said there was already so much political work to be done, adding that such people, instead of embarking political foot work, they were delighting themselves in abusing leaders of the party.
Such behaviour, Wike noted, has dire political consequences because they would pay in bitter tears when the reality of their political lose stares them in the face eventually.
“If anybody like, say what you want to say that I am working for so and so person, it’s their business, say that I am not working for so and so person, it’s their business.
“That will not make me change my mind where we are heading to. Do you understand me? So, if they like, they can make speculation. After all, that is why the word, speculation is there.
“Some of them who do not have 25 votes are busy abusing leaders. When you have finished abusing leaders (us), you will pay.”
Wike stated that, he and his team were already on ground and in the political field talking to the people and soliciting their votes.
They are doing so, Wike insisted, because it was now well established that only those who bring development projects were qualified to reap the votes of the electorate.
“We are here talking to our people, they are there in radio stations and television houses. We are here talking to our people. When you are finished, by that time, it’ll be too late.”
Wike told the electorate to be bold to ask such politicians when they come to them, “what did you bring for us? You come with empty hand; you will go with empty hand. You come with project, we give you votes. You come with promises, we give you promises.”
The Rivers State governor thanked the people of Egbeda community for their support to his administration since 2015.
Wike explained that he had long promised one of their sons, David Omereji, to bring democratic dividend to his community.
The Akpabu-Egbeda-Elele-Omoku link road being flagged off, he said, was one of such promises.
But he noted as sad that the former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, whose mother hails from Egbeda community, would describe the project as not necessary and waste of resources.
“You see, your mother is from here. You didn’t deem it fit or necessary to do anything for your maternal home.
“Now, we that our mother is not from here, we are doing something to help your maternal home. You say it is unnecessary; it is a waste of resources.
“When you have a bad child, he is a bad child. If he is not a bad child, he should thank us for removing shame from his face. Since you don’t have shame, I will add more things for your maternal home.”
Wike announced the award of contract for the reconstruction of the internal roads within Egbeda community.
He, therefore, directed the state Commissioner for Works, Dr Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, to ensure that the contractor, MCC, handling the road being flagged off, stays back to attend to the internal roads.
Wike restated that his administration does not award contracts for any project if the money was not available.
He assured MCC that they would not be owed for the jobs contracted to them.
Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said Akpabu-Egbeda-Elele-Omoku Link Road was 6KM from where the recently inaugurated Akpabu Road stopped into Egbeda community.
He explained the road would serve as an alternative road for travelling on the Egbeda community axis to access the East-West Road in 10 minutes without taking the Port Harcourt International Airport Road.
The road, he said would also enhance movement of farm produce, ease access to healthcare centres and educational facilities.
Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, thanked the governor for construction of the Akpabu-Egbeda road, adding that the people of the area would speak with their votes in appreciation during the February elections.