About 5,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) resident at the Abonnema Wharf Community in Port Harcourt, last Friday, thronged the Isaac Boro Park to declare their support for the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike come 2019 general elections.
The scene, which was heralded with fanfare, was graced by a cream of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs and members of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), including Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, Hon Bright Amaewhule, Engr Samuel Nwanosike, Hon Edison Ogranya, Prince Umejuru, Kinikannwo Amadi and Ikechi Chinda.
Addressing the mammoth APC defectors led by Comrade Igoniko Gogo-Abite, Emeh, who represented the governor, said the decampees had done the right thing by returning to the PDP on noticing that APC in Rivers State was only existing on the various media platforms.
According to Emeh, “The people decamping today are doing the right thing, which I also did some time ago when I saw that the APC in the state has nothing to show that it is in existence”.
He noted that the Wike-led administration had done so well for Rivers State that the defectors would taste his magnanimity, and assured the Abonnema Wharf APC decampees that they would be carried along while their request for a market, revolving loan scheme, among others, would be looked into.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Samuel Nwanosike regretted that the demolition of buildings at the Abonnema Wharf by former governor, Chibuike Amaechi was not in the good interest of Rivers State but for a particular company he chose to favour.
The former Ikwerre Local Government Area CTC chairman observed that the Abonnema Wharf community has a voting power that could decide who would manage the economy of the state, pointing out that the injury inflicted on the people cannot be easily forgotten while assuring the decampees that Wike would stand by them.
In his speech, PDP Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Ikechi Chinda assured that he would ensure the integration of the Abonnema Wharf defectors as quickly as possible, saying that with the development, the 20 wards of Port Harcourt would be won by the PDP come 2019.
In his remarks, leader of the decampees, Comrade Igoniko Gogo-Abite explained that they decided to abandon the APC because of the good works the governor has been doing for the state in terms of infrastructural development, adding that the APC has no leadership pattern and direction.
Gogo-Abite, who enumerated some projects constructed by Wike in the Abonnema Wharf area such as the State Ecumenical Centre and roads, appealed to the state chief executive to assist the community in the area of electricity as they have been in darkness for many months.
Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of Rumuodara in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Eze John Enyindah Amadi has commended the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for the flag-off of the reconstruction of Egbelu Road project in the area.
Amadi, who spoke to our correspondent, said the project would boost socio-economic life of the people of the area.
He said the road will decongest both the Okporo-Aba Road and the Rumuodara-East-West Road that was always congested.
“This Egbelu Road, if completed, will help free these nearby roads from traffic congestion common in this area.
“We are, indeed, very grateful to our action governor for flagging off the road,” he said.
Amadi said the entire people of Rivers State were proud of the governor’s style of good governance.
“Every community in the state has one project or the other to thank him for, so, also on political appointments. Wike is an action governor and a blessing to the state”, the paramount ruler stated.
The Nyewe-Eli-Odara, said Rumuodara will give Wike 100 per cent vote in 2019, and urged him to run for second term.
Describing Rumuodara as one of the fastest developing communities in the state, the royal father appealed to the governor to assist in establishing and constructing a police station in the community for improved security in the area.
He further urged the governor to appoint a son or daughter of the area as a commissioner in his administration.
In the same light, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani has declared that the Ogoni Ethnic Nationality resolved to vote massively for Governor Nyesom Wike in future elections because of his outstanding projects’ delivery in the area.
Speaking during the defection of hundreds of All Progressives Congress (APC) members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gokana Local Government Area, yesterday, Kobani said that Ogoni people were committed to the victory of Wike in 2019.
He said since the creation of Rivers State, no other governor has invested in the development of Ogoniland the way Wike has done.
The former minister of state for trade said all the local government areas that make up Ogoniland have benefited from strategic projects that have improved the living condition of the people.
According to Kobani, the dualization of the Saakpenwa-Bori Road, the completion of Kpopie-Bodo Road, the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity Road, the General Hospital, Bodo City, the Bori Zonal Hospital; General Hospital, Nchia and the Birabi Memorial Grammar School were some of the projects that have transformed the landscape of Ogoniland.
He said: “Governor Wike has transformed Ogoniland, and we are committed to his re-election. If the governor has done this in three years, by the time he completes his second term, Ogoni people will benefit more.
“All Ogoni people, including those who left APC to join us, must remain committed to delivering Governor Wike in 2019. That is our principal goal. Governor Wike has done so much for the Ogonis. No other former governor can equal his record”.
He charged all organisations to work in unity to return Wike in 2019, and warned against divisive tendencies ahead of the campaigns.
Rivers State Finance Commissioner, Dr Fred Kpakol said Wike has placed Ogoni on his priority list in appointments and projects.
He said Gokana Local Government Area alone has the Secretary to the Rivers State Government and the Commissioner for Finance, an indication that Wike loves the people.
In his remarks, Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Politics and Strategy, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh advised the decampee APC members to remain steadfast as they will benefit from their association with the PDP.
He said that APC has nothing to offer the people of Ogoniland, adding that more APC leaders in the area will soon defect to the PDP.
President-General of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Chief Bright Amaewhule commended the APC members for defecting to the PDP.
He said their defection will help in ensuring the re-election of Wike in 2019.

Shedie Okpara and Chris Oluoh