From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will not give its presidential ticket to any candidate who will serve only the interest of the wealthy few in the country.
The governor said some desperate politicians were already scheming for a candidate who will not serve the interest of the many, rather the interest of just those of the wealthy few.
Governor Wike made the assertion 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, yesterday, during which the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Gboko Desreal Bob-manuel conferred him with the traditional title of Se-Ibidokubo of Kalabari land (he who does good things for Kalabari people).
In his remarks after the conferment, Governor said: “No amount of gang up can make PDP to give somebody who will want to run election for the interest of some big men, and not for all Nigerians. Anybody who wants to be candidate of PDP must be candidate for the interest of Nigerians.”
He expressed concern over the fact that some companies in the country have continued to post annual financial profits regularly in a downing national economy to the detriment of the poor.
Wike opined that 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, get poorer.
He reiterated that the stakeholders in the southern part of the country will soon make a declarative statement concerning 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.”
The governor lampooned Rivers politicians serving in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for their gross inability to attract federal government projects to the state.
Concerning the next Rivers’ governor, Wike said everybody was 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.
The governor announced the extension of deadline for completion of the Trans-Kalabari road phase one project by two months owing to the lost period when workmen were kidnapped on site.
He disclosed that if the finances of the state improve, his administration might award the second phase of the Trans-Kalabari road before he leaves office next year.
The governor, while cancelling the contract for the reconstruction of Kalabari National College due to unforeseen 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, Ferdinand Anabraba, explained that the grand reception was significant for two reasons: its critical importance to them as a people and also because of the unity of purpose engendered among them under the Wike administration
He said it was that kind of reception organised for prominent sons and friends who have impacted the Kalabari people.
Anabraba noted that Governor Wike has systematically fulfilled all promises made to them including those of development projects and appointment of Kalabari people into his administration.
He listed some of the projects completed or ongoing to include the phase one of Trans-Kalabari road project other administration promised but failed to execute for over 17 years, the rehabilitation and equipping of zonal and general hospitals, secondary schools, Abonnema Ring road, sandfilling in Obonoma, Abonnema, Bakana and Oboama, Abalama communities.
Also speaking, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs, opined that Kalabari people had enthusiastically and with relentless vigor, contributed to the growth and development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
According to him, it was appropriate, and should be considered right thing for the Kalabari people to expect return for the dues that they had paid.
On his part, Dumo Lulu-Briggs said the Kalabari people were expecting Governor Wike to also ensure that Kalabari people are brought out from the political wilderness in 2023.
A human rights activist, AnnKio Briggs, noted that Rivers State, though a complex place to govern, does not mean that the people do not love each other.
She, however, harped on greater unity among the people while urging Governor Wike not to relent in what he is doing for the Kalabari people, the state and the region.