Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has tasked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to treat the South-South geopolitical zone with fairness, justice and equity.
The governor noted that having consistently voted for the PDP since 1999, the party cannot at this crucial moment ignore the South-South’s constructions to its success.
Governor Wike gave the admonition during the meeting of PDP stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday.
“The South-South is the pillar of the PDP. If the South-South is the pillar of the PDP, they must be treated with fairness, justice and equity. It is not only when it comes to work, it is not only when it comes to giving votes, that we will all remember that the South-South is the pillar. When it also comes in terms of sharing, they should remember that this is the pillar of the party.”
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Governor Wike charged his colleagues, National Assembly members and other stakeholders from the South-South zone to set aside their differences in the overall interest of the PDP.
“We have all said that Nigerians are waiting for PDP to takeover in 2023. That is true. But we cannot takeover if we are not united. We cannot takeover if we don’t work together.”
The Rivers state governor stressed that the only way PDP could wrest political power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government in 2023 is for it to remain united.
He said Nigerians are already disenchanted with the APC led Federal Government that has through its anti-people economic policies inflicted hardship on the masses.
According to the governor, APC’s poor governance is clearly manifest in widespread poverty in Nigeria, insecurity, poor electricity supply, scarcity of petroleum products.
“It is for us to put our house together and make Nigerians proud.
Because if we don’t takeover in 2023, Nigerians will never forgive PDP. All the opportunity abounds and so we must take this opportunity and make Nigerians happy.”
The governor said PDP has realised its past mistakes, and when given another opportunity will not take Nigerians for granted as the ruling APC is doing today.
“Now that Nigerians have opened the door for us, we must make Nigerians happy. This (APC) government is a government of excuses. Every morning, one excuse. Every afternoon, one excuse, and in the night, one excuse. I’ve never seen a party that makes promise without fulfilling the promise.”
Governor Wike’s admonition to the PDP comes as former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar strengthens his grip on the Party with his formal declaration for President on March 23, 2022. Atiku’s forces within the PDP are believed to have ensured the zoning arrangement being pushed by Wike fails to see the light of day. This appears to be the greatest spanner in the works of Wike’s well orchestrated plan to clinch the Presidential ticket of the Party.
Meanwhile following Atiku’s purchase of the Presidential nomination form of the PDP, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has also toed the same path by purchasing his Presidential nomination form. Aminu Tambuwal only recently mooted plans of the North to present a consensus Northern candidate for the PDP. An action that further decimates Wike’s chances of being the Party’s Presidential Flag bearer. Wike is yet to obtain the Party’s nomination form although his aspiration is being promoted under a rapidly dissipating renew Nigeria campaign.
Present at the South South Stakeholders Meeting were Governors, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Other dignitaries in attendance included PDP national vice chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih; Senator George Sekibo; House of Reps Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; former Deputy Speaker House of Reps, Austin Opara; former governors of Cross River and Rivers states, Senator Liyel Imoke and Sir Celestine Omehia.