Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says the people of the state already know the candidate he wants them to vote for in the 25 February, 2023 presidential election.
He said those expecting him to make public declaration on his choice candidate would wait in vain.
Wike in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, during the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally for Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, also accused the Commissioner of Police, CP Okon Effiong, of shying away from checking perceived infractions on election campaigns by opposition parties in the state.
Apparently responding to the governoship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state in the 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who had dared him to declare his preferred presidential candidate, Governor Wike said he, at no point, promised to make public declaration on who to support for president.
He said, “I never told anybody I will face cameras to announce to you this is who we will vote. I said I will tell Rivers people the candidate they will support. I did not state the method of telling it. I did not say I will hold live coverage to declare it.
“And Rivers people know already. Are you not aware. So ‘mumu’ people who never win in politics are expecting me to make live declaration that we’re now going for Joseph (hypothetically).
“Far from it. But you (Rivers people) are aware. Have we not said it? I’ve told people who don’t know. In G-5 we are fighting a guerilla warfare. The more you look the less you see.”
On perceived indifference of the Rivers Police Command to alleged infractions in campaigns by opposition parties in the state, Wike warned the Police that he would deploy the Neighborhood Watch, the state’s established community policing outfit, to protect lives and property in the state if the Police refuse to do their job diligently.
He said of the CP, “You are the one making them (opposition parties) to break the law. If you don’t do your work, we will take over your work from you. We will release our Neighborhood Watch. You cannot support people who are breaking the law.
“You know the truth of the matter, you are scared so they won’t transfer you. You can be transfered anywhere, any day. So you are neither here nor there. Your fear of being transfered will not save you. Do your work. Nobody should intimidate you. Tell them not to push us to the wall.”