Families of citizens including those of the armed security forces who lost their loved one during the violent Presidential and National Assembly polls in Rivers State on February 23, are being contacted by the state government under the watch of Governor Nyesom Wike.
Governor Wike who said the government will hold a remembrance service for all those who were killed during the election violence at Abonnema, called on the security agencies to perform their duties in line with the rules governing elections.
While advising the armed security forces to conserve their energy to fighting Boko Haram and violent crime, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor said those who involved themselves in street protests claiming they will kick him out are merely playing because they have already kicked themselves out of the process.
He said Rivers people have already decided to vote him again for a second term and accordingly charged them to overwhelmingly vote for the PDP during this Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections and ensure they defend their votes.
Wike was speaking at a Town Hall meeting where the leaders of Rivers South-East Senatorial District re-affirmed their endorsement for his second term, urged them to be peaceful and vigilant to ensure that their votes count.
According to him, ‘’just be vigilant and protect your votes. We have no security with us, but we have the Chief Security Officer of the world on our side. If they like they should bring Police, Army and thugs from all over the world, we are quite confident that we shall smile on March 9, 2019. Come out and vote for people you can vouch for.
‘’It is unfortunate that the Minister of Transportation would imagine that he can impose a politician without pedigree on Rivers State, just because he is desperate. Has Rivers State gone to the level where someone will point at a person and make him governor?
‘’He says he will bring anyone even without record. Rivers State is not like any other state. We will not allow a godfather to operate here. Our only Godfather is God. I am urging you to adopt a peaceful disposition all through the elections.
‘’Those who plan to use security forces to kill Rivers people should know that the security personnel will come and go, but Rivers State will remain. You are not participating in the elections. Why are you killing our people. You should allow the will of God to prevail. Talk to our children to avoid being used for violence.
‘’Reject violence as being propagated by the All Progressives Congress (APC). I have been wondering why the APC leadership should resort to the promotion of electoral violence, when they ostracised themselves from the political contest.
‘’Those who want to shed blood in Rivers will never succeed. I don’t know why they are plotting to destroy the state. We never caused any problems in the APC. APC fought themselves and pushed themselves out of the race. Now they want to kill everyone in the state. What is the offence of Rivers people, that we must all die because the APC excluded themselves from the ballot?
‘’Where are the children of the APC leaders preaching violence in Rivers State? Nobody in Rivers ran for the post of President and Vice President on February 23, yet the APC visited deaths on Rivers people.’’
Wike berated the minister for playing a politics of lies and failed promises, alleging that the minister believes in the rotation of positions, yet he nominated himself as minister, sacked an Ogoni man as the Executive Director of Finance and Administration of NDDC and replaced him with his kinsman from Ikwerre and also facilitated the appointment of an Ikwerre as a member of Federal Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.
He however, commended the people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District for voting for PDP candidates during the last elections, and urged them to step up their votes as his administration will site projects in each of the seven local government areas that make up the district.
The Gbenemene Tau-Tau of Tai Local Government Area, King Sam Nne said the traditional rulers of the senatorial bloc are behind the re-election of Governor Wike because of his outstanding projects delivery across the state .
He claimed the election has already been won by Wike on the strength of the fact that he has turned the state into a huge construction site, adding that for the first time, a Tai man has been elected a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the support of Governor Wike .
Speaking on behalf of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Chief Felix Nwaeke said that Governor Wike fulfills all his promises to the people, hence they will stand with him during the elections.
For Khana Local Government Area, Chief Austin Nnako said the people of the area will turn out en-masse to re-elect Governor Wike .
Mrs Priscilla Vikwe of Gokana Local Government Area described Governor Wike as a covenant child who cannot be defeated by the evil machinations of the opposition.
Pastor Chris of Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area, Chief Gad Ekperikpo of Andoni and Chief Ambrose Oloji of Eleme Local Government Area assured that they will deliver Governor Wike during the March 9, 2019 Governorship Election.
