Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the People Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate, has been warned by Governor Nyesom Wike not to count on Rivers state's PDP to support him in the 2023 elections because of Atiku's alleged hostility toward Wike and the party there.
The governor accused Atiku of choosing members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council from Rivers without contacting him or taking his suggestions into consideration, 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 the 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 to Rivers to bring votes, after brining votes, you push us aside. That will not happen again.”
He stated that PDP in Rivers State has done well for the people, with such a feat acknowledged by President Muhammadu Buhari, making it more difficult for any other party to have a chance of winning the election in the State.
The governor said he has released N50Billion to contractors handling ongoing projects to speed up work, assuring that more completed projects will be inaugurated soon in the state.
Chairman of the Rivers PDP Campaign Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba said his team has accepted the task before them and is determined to give their best in delivering the consolidation team of the New Rivers Vision.
Alabraba assured that the council will deliver all 32 candidates of the State House of Assembly, 13 members for the House of Representatives, the 3 Senatorial candidates and the gubernatorial candidate in the State.
He noted that the transformation Rivers has witnessed under Governor Wike since 2015 has further endeared the PDP to the people, giving the party a head start above the opposition ahead of the coming elections in the state.