Amaechi Okonkwo
Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike has said Rivers State has reasserted itself as one of the premier strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country following the victory of Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the party’s governorship candidate as governor-elect.
The governor noted that despite the evil machination of the opposition, the PDP has consistently won all the governorship elections in the state since 2015.
He made the statement shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Fubara as the winner of the 2023 governorship election on Monday night.
Fubara, polled 302,614 votes to defeat his closest rival, Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 95,274 votes. The Social Democratic Party candidate, Senator Magnus Abe came a distant third with 46,981.
The governor, who was visibly elated by Fubara’s resounding victory, told PDP leaders at the Government House, Port Harcourt that the state would continue to remain pivotal to the successes of the PDP.
“Whom God has blessed, no one can curse”, Wike said adding; “There is nothing anyone can do about it. God at this time has said Siminalayi Fubara will be the next governor, and we give God the glory today that, that has happened.
“We won 23 local governments, 23 over 23. It has never happened. Out of the 32 State constituencies, we have won 31, it is the remaining one that they said we would go for a bye-election. We are ready and we will take that one.
“So, we have said to anybody who cares, Rivers State is PDP. When you annoy us, we do another thing. When we wanted to vote for the unity of the country, we showed it. We didn’t do anti-party, but we voted for the unity of the country and that is what we did for one Nigeria.”
Wike, who dedicated the electoral victories of the PDP in the just concluded general elections to Almighty God and the people of Rivers state, commended party stalwarts for remaining steadfast in defence of the State since he assumed office in 2015.
“Let me thank all of you for the support you have given us, and how you stood firm to make sure that we defend what is Rivers State. In 2015, we did it, in 2019, we did it and in 2023, we have done it again. So, it is not surprising, God has always been with us.”
Wike said he would remain eternally grateful to God because when he first contested for the office of governor in 2015, his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi was the incumbent, and was antagonistic to his political aspiration.
The governor while mocking his predecessor for restoring to divisive and disgusting politicking during the electioneering period, said the resounding victory of the PDP has further diminished his political relevance in Rivers State.
He said; “When we came out in 2015, we were not in government. There was a governor Amaechi then in 2015. He was the Director General DG of the Muhammadu Buhari campaign.
“In 2019, he was a super Minister and DG of the Buhari campaign. He never gave him Buhari 25 per cent. 2015, he never gave him 25 per cent.”
“This is 2023, and they cannot get a 25 per cent vote in the state, we have also defeated him. You were a super governor, we defeated you. You were a super minister, we defeated you, now, you are a super nobody, we defeated you.”
He cautioned PDP members not to be complacent because the opposition which he likened to “enemies” are still prowling around.
In his acceptance speech, the governor-elect, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, thanked God for his electoral victory and assured that his administration will be consolidated on governor Wike’s New Rivers Vision.
Fubara said; “We are going to work with everybody who believes in the New Rivers Vision to continue to build better lives, good services, protection of the dignity of every Rivers man and woman, protection of the integrity of this state in all phases and to make sure that we continue to defend our party in this state.
“Our vision is simple, it is anchored on the New Rivers Vision. We are to continue, to improve and to develop more on it. I want to thank the leadership of the party and the good people of Rivers State who believed in the New Rivers vision and ensured that the vision is the right vision. On the 18th of March, 2023 they supported us, they came out in their large numbers and voted for the unity and progress of this state.”
He assured the people of Rivers State and the leadership of the PDP that his administration would not disappoint them.
“We give God all the glory and our foundation has always been God, and we believe He is going to provide us with the wisdom to carry this crown, it’s a big one. My principal will be leaving a huge shoe, I will need a lot of stockings so my leg can fit in properly.
“So, I need to start working on it. I need all of you to continue to support us, for us to achieve and maintain the standard that the governor has already laid and established for us.”
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