2023: Rivers People Will Soon Decide On Preferred Presidential Candidate – Wike

Rivers State governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has hinted that the decision on the presidential candidate to vote for in the 2023 general elections in the state will soon be made public.

He said when the decision would be taken, Rivers electorate, who have enjoyed good governance under his administration and desirous to reciprocate the gesture, would be told which presidential candidate to vote.

Wike spoke yesterday when he inaugurated the Rukpokwu-Rumuapu-Izo-Ogbodo Igwuruta Link Road, in Rumuapu community in Obio-Akpor local government area.

The governor said for what his administration had done in terms of performance and provision of critical infrastructure, Rivers people were already at home with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He charged the electorate to cast their votes only for PDP gubernatorial candidate as well as National Assembly and State Assembly candidates.

Wike said, “Then the other one (presidential), I will come and tell you where we will vote. These ones (governorship, Senatorial, Reps and State Assembly candidates) I mentioned now, make sure you come and vote for them. Very soon, we’ll meet in our houses and take decision where we are going to.”

The governor mocked governorship candidates of other parties in the state, who he said are not in touch with the people at the grassroots, saying that other governorship candidates, do not also have any following, no traditional or political opinion leaders who can help galvanise the support of the electorate for them.

He said such candidates were only desperately going about collecting money from people in the guise of preparing for election when they know that they are not in the race to win the election.

Wike said Rivers electorate will vote the party that has come to their aid, supported and made them happy while also sustaining the peace in the state.

The governor said, “You will work for a party that has come to your aid, a party that has brought dividends of democracy. If the people of Rukpokwu are not happy, will they be here.

“Governance is all about the happiness of the people. When the people are happy, we are happy. So, if I come here to address you everybody will listen to me.”

He boasted that his administration has attended to every area of development concern in Apara Kingdom, particularly on the provision of roads.

Wike therefore challenged any person within the kingdom in Obio-Akpor local government area of the state to dare mention any that has been left unattended.

On the issue of security, the governor said with the inauguration of the Police Intelligence and Surveillance Centre in Port Harcourt by the Inspector General of Police on Monday, criminals involved in kidnapping will be easily arrested for prosecution.

He said: “Yesterday (Monday), the Inspector-General of Police came and we commissioned the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre. I want to tell all of you who may be thinking of kidnapping. The time is over.

“As it is now, in that Intelligence Centre, we will be watching you on screen. Anywhere you are on the road we are seeing you.  That period is over when you think you will commit a crime and runaway.”

In his address, the commissioner for works, Dr George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo, stated that the Rukpokwu-Rumuapu-Izo-Ogbodo Igwuruta Link Road connects the Obio-Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas.

He said the road is 7.6-kilometre in length, 7.3 meters in width with 7km of drains, which has been delivered in the best quality specified. It has already enhanced the ease of doing business in the area.