Ahead of the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that nobody can intimidate him as far as the politics of the state is concerned.
Wike made this declaration on Monday when traditional chiefs and people of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area paid him a visit at his residence in Port Harcourt. They also asked him to contest the 2015 governorship election.
The minister, who described politics as a game he had been involved for some time, insisted that he and his supporters would not be shaken by any form of conspiracy.
Though he was silent on his readiness to run for the 2015 election, Wike urged the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, women and youth leaders to mobilise the people to return President Goodluck Jonathan to office next year.
He maintained that the PDP would win the governorship election in Rivers State, if President Jonathan was declared the winner of the presidential election.
“One thing I can tell all of you is to go home and sleep. I am your son; nobody can intimidate me. Be rest assured whatever you hear anybody saying; whatever conspiracy, don’t worry yourselves. This is a game we have been involved in and note that we will not be shaken at all.
“Whatever we have decided to do, we will do it. So, very soon, you will also hear from us. But what I can tell you is go home and sleep very well. You have nothing to lose because the PDP will continue to rule this state.
“We must all mobilise. I have told the party chairmen, GDI and others that everybody must mobilise and see that we return Jonathan, come 2015. So, do not be worried because when you vote for Jonathan, it is very obvious that the PDP will produce the governor of Rivers State.
“But if you don’t vote for Jonathan, it may be difficult because Jonathan’s election will come first. So, voting for Jonathan means that you will vote for whoever emerges as the PDP candidate in the governorship primary,” Wike added.
The minister pointed out that the only place the interest of Rivers people would be protected was in the PDP, recalling that the people of Apara Kingdom and Obio/Akpor were at the forefront of installing the Rotimi Amaechi administration.
The minister said, “One thing that is clear, which I want my fathers, mother, sisters and my brothers to know is that the place that your interest will be protected, as far as democracy is concerned in this country, is the Peoples Democratic Party.
“It is to the glory of God and I am saying it for those who may want to shy away from it. It is you, the Apara Kingdom that led the war that brought this government into place. I want anybody to challenge us.
“Those of them today who are talking from left to right could not be found anywhere. When it mattered most, most of them ran away.”
It is you, the Apara Kingdom that gave me the support to make sure we put this government in place.
“But do not worry that the same government you have put in place has left you. God has given you an opportunity to put back another government. I challenge anybody; since we left this government, let those serving in this (state) government come and tell us the benefit of Apara Kingdom from this government.”
Earlier, the traditional Prime Minister of Apara Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Eze Worlu Wodo, pleaded with Wike to accept the call on him to run for the position of the governor of the state in 2015.
Explaining that the people of the state and country were proud of him, Wodo pointed out that it was necessary for the minister to come back home, contest the election and develop the state.
“All this while, people have been coming to us to ask us to tell you (Wike)to come back home and run for the governorship position in the state in 2015. Rivers people have no regret having you as a son. Nigeria has no regret having you as a son,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment