10th NASS: Wike Endorses Abbas, Ben Kalu For Speaker, Deputy

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has thrown his weight behind Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the incoming 10th House of Representatives.

Wike, who declared the support for the APC’s preferred candidates in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Friday, promised not to support any other candidate except the duo.

The outgoing PDP Governor described Abbas and Kalu as the most qualified aspirants for speaker, deputy speaker positions, assuring that he will deliver Rivers votes for them.

Buttressing on the promise, he stated that all the 13 members-elect from Rivers State with the exception of one, are with Abbas and Kalu 100 per cent.

While saying that the 2015 scenario where members that went against their party emerged as leaders of the National Assembly would not repeat itself, the Governor promised he would work assiduously to make sure that the duo emerge victorious.

“I want to say here that I am with you fully. You know I do my things in the open. When Chinda told me that you’re coming here, I said there was no need because I am with you fully. All our members are with you, except one, who is doing something else. 2015 won’t repeat itself. Let me tell you, I’ll leave office on Monday, and once I leave, we’ll start the campaign fully. I urge all of you to support Abbas. Don’t support him in the day and do something else in the night. You should support him fully,” Wike stated.

On his part, a House of Representatives member-elect and CUPP Spokesman and Communication adviser to the Tajudeen Ben Kalu group (TBK), who was also part of the delegation, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, expressed excitement over Wike’s endorsement, saying the endorsement was a climax to the duo’s victory come June 13.

Ugochinyere, who also recently with the support of over 30 others declared their endorsement of the duo, said the visit was a victory consolidation, adding that Abbas and Kalu were seconds away from emerging victorious.