2023 Rivers Guber: Wike Call On Rivers Elders For Support

During the celebration of the 74th birthday of former governor of Rivers State Sir Peter Odili, the Executive Governor of Rivers State Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had called out some elders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the state for working against him after they had lost out in the governorship primaries of the party in the state. The governor in a statement by his media aide Kelvin Ebiri is quoted to have said that some elders of the party who came up to urge him to contest the presidential Primaries of the PDP and who also indicated interest to be governors are today working against him and the Governorship candidate of the party in the state. 

This statement as true as it may be considering the fact that most of them fighting the governor today all picked up the nomination form, only goes a long way to highlight the loyalty of Bro Felix Amaechi Obuah who was the most outstanding of all the aspirants at that point in time.

The fact that rather than feel aggrieved due to the outcome of the primaries which many analyst projected him to come out victorious, he humbly rescinded contesting. He is reported to have given the nod to all his numerous supporters who stormed the venue of the primaries to rather line up behind the candidate whom the governor had chosen.

After the outcome of the primaries, his supporters had threatened to show their angst but he maturely called them to order and rather asked them to work towards ensuring that Senibo Sim Fubara who is the candidate of the party is supported to make it to the Brick House Port Harcourt.

Politics they say is a game of interest but if personal interest overrides general interest then that particular person has an issue. While our party elders whose interest to be governor of the state seem dashed by the choice of Sim Fubara, leading them to move to Abuja to work against the governor and the overall interest of the state, Bro. Felix Obuah has rather remained in the state and has become a pillar of support for the governor, the party and it’s standard bearer.

While playing host to the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party recently, Bro. Obuah had assured Prof. Ngozi Ordu of his maximum support. He also called on the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government area as well as the people of the Orashi region to fully give her the support that will ensure she and Sim Fubara makes it to the Government House. In his words “since I didn’t make it to Government House Port Harcourt, you are my sister and an elder sister. I will give you my full support for you to be there”

I really don’t understand what our party elders want considering that most of them have been privileged to hold positions under the party. Some of them have been in the National Assembly, held various positions and have been made politically relevant by the Nyesom Wike administration but as humans, they have shown that there is nothing that can appease their minds once they fail to get what they want.

Bro Felix Amaechi Obuah has sacrificed so much for the party. As chairman of the party in the state during the time of former governor Rotimi Amaechi as well as during the 2019 general elections, Bro. Obuah showed tenacity to deliver leading to the success of the party. He brought all stakeholders together and it is on record that their was no major defection during his period rather politicians from other parties defected en mass to the PDP due to his policy of carrying everyone along.

If there is any aspirant that should feel agrieved, I truly believe Go Round as he is popular called should be one. While most of them counted on the patronage of the governor to emerge as flag bearers, Bro. Obuah invested so much on the people building loyalty across board. He is a house hold name in the state and most of them knew they had no chance against him. But rather than chose the path of ignominy which they have chosen today, Bro. Obuah has chosen to remain loyal to the general aspiration of Rivers people as encapsulated in the candidacy of Senibo Sim Fubara. I strongly believe and hope that such loyalty will be greatly honoured by not just the governor but the good people of Rivers State who do not identify with betrayers of public trust.

Nwokoma Messiah is the Director Media and Publicity of the Bro Felix Obuah Support Group For Sim/Ordu 2023