Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is urging Igbo traders in Port Harcourt to support Sim Fubara, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming elections. In a town hall meeting with Igbo traders, Wike praised Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 presidential election, describing him as his hero for blocking northerners from retaining power after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.
“In this election that we just did, Obi is my hero, as far as I’m concerned,” Wike said, urging the traders to support Fubara’s gubernatorial ambition. He emphasized that if Obi had not contested, power would have remained in the North.
Wike further highlighted Obi’s significance in the presidential election during a meeting with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at Government House in Port Harcourt. He claimed that Obi left the PDP for Labour Party because former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, insisted on a northern candidate being the party’s flagbearer.
The Rivers governor, who is a prominent member of the PDP, urged the Igbo traders to support Fubara, stating that the PDP is the only party that is committed to the interests of the Igbo people. He further promised to continue to support and empower Igbo traders in Rivers State.
“Igbo traders are very important to Rivers State,” Wike said. “They are our brothers and sisters, and we will continue to support and empower them. That is why we are asking them to support Sim Fubara and the PDP. We are the only party that is committed to the interests of the Igbo people.”
Wike’s plea to Igbo traders comes amid intense political competition in Rivers State, which is one of the major battlegrounds in the upcoming elections. The state is currently under the control of the PDP, and the party is seeking to retain power by electing Fubara as governor.
The PDP is facing stiff competition from other parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been making significant inroads in the state in recent years. The APC has been seeking to win over Igbo voters, who are a significant demographic in Rivers State.
However, Wike is confident that the PDP will emerge victorious in the upcoming elections, and he is calling on all Igbo traders to support Fubara and the PDP in their bid to retain power in the state.
“We are confident that the PDP will win this election,” Wike said. “We have a strong candidate in Sim Fubara, and we are committed to the interests of the Igbo people. We urge all Igbo traders to support us in this election.”