From Ekaete Ikubor
PORT HARCOURT
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not give its presidential ticket to any candidate who would serve only the interest of the wealthy few in Nigeria.
Wike said some desperate politicians were already scheming for a candidate who would not serve the interest of the masses, rather the interest of just those of the wealthy few.
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.
The governor was conferred a traditional title of Se-Ibidokibo of Kalabari land (He who does good things for Kalabari people).
The installation was performed by the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Gboko Desreal Bob-Manuel.
He expressed concern over the fact that some companies in the country continue to post annual financial profits regularly in a struggling national economy to the detriment of the poor.
Wike said that such profits, invariably, shared only by the rich, make them to get richer, while the majority of the population of the country, who were poor, get poorer.
He reiterated that the stakeholders in southern Nigeria would 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 blasted Rivers politicians serving in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for their gross inability to attract Federal Government projects to the state.
Concerning the next governorship of the State, Wike said anybody was entitled to aspire to be the next governor, but such person must show capacity for that office and well-disposed to protect the interest of the state.
He told Kalabari people, specifically, that they had not done well in terms of loving themselves and working in unity, adding that it was only a united people who could speak with one voice that would stand up to make demands, and therefore, urged them to put their house in order.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the State Elders’ Forum, Chief 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’s administration.
He said it was that kind of reception organised for prominent sons and friends who have impacted on Kalabari people.
Anabraba noted that Wike had systematically fulfilled all the 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 1 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, sand filling in Obonoma, Abonnema, Bakana, Oboama, and Abalama communities.
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