Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has clarified the intent of his public comment on the endorsement of Peter Obi by former president Olusegun Obasanjo instead of his former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, stems from concern for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Wike offered the explanation when he spoke at the Mgbuodohia Community Primary School Premises, the flag-off venue of the construction of Mgbuodohia Road in Rumuolumene Town of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area on Tuesday.
The governor observed that former president Obasanjo had served as president on the platform of the PDP with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as his vice for eight years; hence, ideally, he should have been in a better position to solicit support from Nigerians on his behalf with confidence.
But if such was not done, Governor Wike noted, by way of endorsement, then something was fundamentally wrong that should elicit concern from members of the PDP.
“I meant no bad. I’m only worried as a prominent PDP member. A man who loves PDP should be worried. I was not mocking anybody. I was merely worried. My prayer was, let Obasanjo remain quiet and not say anything. That was all my prayer, but my prayer didn’t work. My prayer was that if this man made any statement, it would indict us because he was the president under the Peoples Democratic Party for eight years, and he worked with our presidential candidate. And the campaign of our presidential council is that our presidential candidate during the eight years did very well, with experience.”
He insisted that for Obasanjo to have gone ahead to endorse the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, instead of his former vice, it means something must be fundamentally wrong.
Governor Wike wondered that instead of people in the party looking at the issues critically and pondering on what could be done with the seemed wrong, they were abusing him.
“What did I do? I didn’t do anything. All I did was express of concern. If you care about this party, you should go back and ask what is fundamentally wrong.
“Me, that is worried that we should do something and have expressed it; you’re abusing me for telling the party that we should do something.”
Governor Wike insisted that only those who love the PDP would be bent on ensuring that nothing untoward happened to it.
Governor Wike noted that those who are abusing him are jobbers and political flirts who jump from one party to another every other day, with one of them now a spokesman of the party.
“They are not bothered, but those of us who, since 1998 joined this party, contributed to the survival of this party until now, we keep always shouting when we see danger coming.
“Abuses upon abuses, it will not change anything; rather, it will spoil more things. What you don’t know, ask people, seek advice; people will help you solve the problem.”
The Rivers State governor said abusing members of the Integrity Group of the PDP would only complicate the lingering crisis in the party. He further cautioned those issuing threats of possible punitive action against the G5 governors to perish the thought.
“Nobody can drive us from this house we have built, and all of us will fight here. So, if anybody thinks that you can sit in your house and dish out orders, it will not work. The house will collapse on you. So, you better think twice.”
Governor Wike flayed Prince Uche Secondus and insisted the companies that bided and got the contract awards for projects sited in Andoni were introduced by him.
According to Governor the companies were paid, but those projects were never executed, and Prince Uche Secondus cannot extricate himself from the companies that got those jobs.
Governor Wike also said the soul and strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have departed, leaving the carcass and, therefore, cannot get any electoral support from the Rivers electorate.
Specifically, Governor Wike pointed to the level of support that Chief Anele Orobule, a die-hard believer in the former governor Chibuike Amaechi, gave to the APC but was disgraced because of failed promises.
Governor Wike mentioned that even when Chibuike Amaechi awarded the Rumuolumene -Rumuepirikom road, it was abandoned, but under his administration, the project was completed. And in addition, he reconstructed the impassable Naval road and the Mgbuosimini – Nkpor Road.
He urged the people of Rivers State to be wary of the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, who Amaechi is fronting because they do not mean well for the State.
The governor urged the Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to consider constructing a bridge to link Rumuolumeni to Eagle Island in Port Harcourt when he eventually assumes office.
Describing the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works Dr George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo said the Mgbuodohia Road is 5.1 KM long, and will be 7.3 meters wide with an offshoot drain of 6.5 km long.
According to him, the start point of the road construction work will be at the Aker Base junction, stretching into the Nkpor community to form a perfect circle while connecting the Mgbeke community in the area and having five month completion period.
