By Simeon Nwakaudu
As we head to December 8, 2014 for the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primary, the preferred choice of the PDP delegates, leaders and ordinary members of the largest party in Africa has emerged through a process of consensus, negotiation and the political realities in the state.
He is Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the proponent of a new Rivers Vision, programmed to right the developmental and political deficiencies that Rivers State and her people have suffered under the outgoing administration in the state. The leaders and the ordinary people of the state, from the mainland to the riverine have all resolved to ensure that the state is returned to the path of growth.
This decision by the leaders, delegates and members of the Rivers State PDP to collectively endorse Barrister Wike to lead the party to victory in the 2015 general elections was borne out of the desire to ensure that only a politician with capacity and grassroots penetration would be given the privilege to fly the party’s flag.
Despite the collective decision of all segments of the Rivers PDP to end under-development in the state, Barrister Wike has made it a point of duty to seek the direct endorsement of PDP delegates from all the local government areas of the State.
At the last count, Barrister Wike has consulted with leaders, delegates and members from 10 local government areas of Rivers State. He has visited Akuku-Toru, Tai, Gokana, Khana, Ahoada West, Abua-Odual and Eleme LGAs. Other local councils visited include Etche, Oyigbo and Ogu/Bolo.
In these councils, delegates backed by hundreds of thousands of leaders and members turned out massively during the on-going meet the delegates tour of the former Minister of State for Education. The meet the PDP delegates tour for the remaining LGAs will go on as planned.
Top Rivers PDP leaders from the ten local government areas so far visited collectively presented the endorsements of their members, declaring that they would cast their votes for Barrister Wike during the party primary on December 8. In each of the council, the governorship aspirant spent hours presenting his development blueprint and programmes to the delegates, while putting before them his action plan for the implementation of the developmental scheme to revive a stagnated state.
The PDP Senator, George Sekibo and all the PDP House of Representatives members from the state have individually and collectively endorsed Barrister Wike on behalf their respective constituents. Same for the PDP members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. All the members of Federal Boards and Federal Commissioners are not left out in this chain of endorsements. Other key leaders of the party like Alabo David Briggs, a former Commissioner in Rivers State, Chief Feddie Alabrabra, former Chairman of the United Bank of Africa, Senator Adawari Pepple, former Senate Whip, Dr Henry Ogiri, Executive Director, Finance and Administration of Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Hope Ikiriko, Federal Commissioner, Federal Civil Service Commission and Chief Austin Opara, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives also endorsed the aspirant on behalf of their respective constituencies.
Chief Chibudom Nwuche, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Sergeant Awuse, Chairman, Governing Council of Kaduna Polytechnic, Engineer Emeka Woke, former chairman Emohua LGA, Mr Kenneth Kobani, former Finance Commissioner, Rivers State and Chief Timothy Nsirim, former chairman, Obio/Akpor LGA have since joined the train of endorsements for the New Rivers Vision. The list of popular PDP leaders who have spoken on behalf of their people is endless.
Barrister Wike has all through the ten LGAs delivered a message of hope and commitment to the will of the people. To him, only the endorsements of the people count in the quest to lead Rivers State. He said seeking endorsements elsewhere without attempting to interact with the party delegates amount to disregarding the people, which forms the premise for the current under-development and impunity being suffered in the state.
Barrister Nyesom Wike is of the opinion that the reason why some leaders disregard their constituents is because they have no contract with the people during the electioneering process.
He noted that governorship aspirants who are not campaigning are taking the people and PDP delegates for granted by erroneously thinking that they would emerge through external endorsements.
The decision of who leads Rivers State after the non-performing administration in the state rests with the people of the state. Any aspirant who seeks the mandate of the people should have the courage to meet the delegates and the ordinary members of the PDP. There is no wisdom in threatening fire and brimstones at press conferences organized in the air-conditioned halls of high-brow hotels. The people have made a choice and they will see through their choice.
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant (Media) to Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, PDP Governorship Aspirant, Rivers State.
