They don't need Rivers to vote for them– Wike

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the People Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate, has been informed by Governor Nyesom Wike that he shouldn't count on the party in Rivers state to support him in the 2023 elections due to Atiku's alleged hostility toward Wike and the party in Rivers.

The governor accused Atiku of choosing members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council from Rivers without contacting him or considering his suggestions, compromising the state's enormous electoral potential, while launching the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council on Monday in Port Harcourt.

He said, “The presidential candidate entered Rivers and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor. So, they don’t need me to campaign for them, they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself on them?

“I have never seen how people will disrespect a State like Rivers and go choose enemies of the State, without the contribution from us. So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the State, the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.

"Politics is a game of interest. If nobody accommodates interest of Rivers State, then we have nothing to do with such people. If you say that you have no interest in Rivers, Rivers will not have your own interest. It is only those who like us we will like.

“I have told people who care, Rivers has voted PDP since 1999. Of this support we have given since 1999 till now, can you mention one thing that we have gotten? Can you mention one road we have gotten? All they care is to use Rivers to bring votes, after bringing votes, you push us aside. That will not happen again.”

According to him, the PDP in Rivers State has done well for the populace, and President Muhammadu Buhari has acknowledged this achievement, making it more challenging for any other party to have a chance of winning the election in the State.

The governor promised that additional finished projects will be inaugurated in the state shortly and announced that he has granted N50 billion to contractors managing existing projects in order to speed up work.

Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, the chairman of the Rivers PDP Campaign Council, stated that his team has taken the challenge at hand and is committed to doing their best to deliver the New Rivers Vision consolidation team.

Alabraba promised that the council will supply all 32 candidates for the State House of Assembly, 13 members for the House of Representatives, 3 candidates for the Senate, and the State's candidate for governor.

He pointed out that Governor Wike's makeover of Rivers since 2015 has further won over the public, providing the PDP with an advantage over the opposition going into the state's upcoming elections.

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