Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike, says, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not give its presidential ticket to any candidate who will serve only the interest of the wealthy few in Nigeria.
The governor said some desperate politicians are already scheming for a candidate who will not serve the interest of the many, rather the interest of just those of the wealthy few.
Wike spoke on Saturday at a grand reception organised in his honour by the people of Kalabari ethnic nationality at the Abalama School field in Asari Toru Local Government Area on Saturday.
His word: “No amount of gang-up can make PDP give somebody who will want to run an election for the interest of some big men, and not for all Nigerians.
“Anybody who wants to be the candidate of PDP must be a candidate for the interest of Nigerians.”
He expressed concerns over the fact that some companies in the country continue to post annual financial profits regularly in a downing national economy to the detriment of the poor.
The governor said such profits, invariably, shared only by the rich, make them to get richer, while the majority of the population of the country, who are poor, gets poorer
He reiterated that the stakeholders in Southern will soon make a declarative statement concerning the 2023 presidential election.
“The day the South will speak, Nigeria will shake. We believe in the unity of this country, but nobody can threaten us. Nobody should threaten us. We believe in the unity of Nigeria and unity of Nigeria must continue,” he said.
Wike condemned Rivers politicians serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for their gross inability to attract federal government projects to the State.
Concerning the next governorship of Rivers state, the governor said everybody is entitled to aspire to be the next governor but such person must show capacity for that office and be well disposed to protect the interest of the State.
He told the Kalabari people, specifically, that they have not done well in terms of loving themselves and working in unity.
Governor Wike said it is only a united people who can speak with one voice that can stand up to make demands. He therefore urged them to put their house in order.
He announced the extension of the dateline of completion of the Trans Kalabari road phase one project by two months owing to the loss period when workmen were kidnapped on site; adding that if the finances of the state improved, his administration might award the phase of the Trans Kalabari road before he leaves office next year.
Governor Wike, while canceling the contract for the reconstruction of Kalabari National College due to foreseen politics, announced the release of more funds for the Maryhood Girls Secondary school in the area to speed up its completion.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Rivers state Elders Forum, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba explained that the grand reception is significant for two reasons; of its critical importance to them as a people and also because of the unity of purpose engendered among them under the Wike’s administration
He said it is that kind of reception organised for prominent sons and friends who have impacted the Kalabari people.
Chief Anabraba noted that Governor Wike has systematically fulfilled all promises made to them including those of development projects and the appointment of Kalabari people into his administration.
He listed some of the projects completed or ongoing to include the phase 1 of Trans-Kalabari road project other administration promises but failed to execute for over 17 years, the rehabilitation and equipping of zonal and general hospitals, secondary schools, Abonnema Ring road, sand filling in Obonoma, Abonnema and Bakan.
