candidate who will serve only the interest of the wealthy few in
Nigeria.
The governor said some desperate politicians are already scheming for a
candidate who will not serve the interest of the many, rather the
interest of just those of the wealthy few.
Governor Wike made the assertion at a grand reception organised in his
honour by the people of Kalabari ethnic nationality at the Abalama
School field in Asari Toru Local Government Area on Saturday.
The governor was conferred a traditional title of Se- Ibidokibo of
Kalabari land (He who does good things for Kalabari people) and was
performed by the Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Gboko Desreal Bob-manuel.
His word: “No amount of gang up can make PDP to give somebody who will
want to run election for the interest of some big men, and not for all
Nigerians.
“Anybody who wants to be candidate of PDP must be candidate for the
interest of Nigerians.”
He expressed concerns over the fact that some companies in the country
continue to post annual financial profits regularly in a downing
national economy to the detriment of the poor.
Governor Wike opined that such profits, invariably, shared only by the
rich, make them to get richer, while the majority of the population of
the country, who are poor, gets poorer
He reiterated that the stakeholders in Southern will soon make a
declarative statement concerning 2023 presidential election.
“The day the South will speak, Nigeria will shake. We believe in the
unity of this country, but nobody can threaten us. Nobody should
threaten us. We believe in the unity of Nigeria and unity of Nigeria
must continue.”
The governor lampooned Rivers politicians serving in the President
Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for their gross inability to attract
federal government projects to the State.
Concerning the next governorship of Rivers State, Governor Wike said
everybody is entitled to aspire to be the next governor, but such person
must show capacity for that office and be well disposed to protect the
interest of the State.
He told the Kalabari people, specifically, that they’ve have not done
well in terms of loving themselves and working in unity.
Governor Wike said it is only a united people who can speak with one
voice that can stand up to make demands. He therefore, urged them to put
their house in order.
The governor announced the extension of dateline of completion of the
Trans Kalabari road phase one project by two months owing to the loss
period when workmen were kidnapped on site.
He disclosed that if the finance of the state improves, his
administration may award the phase two of the Trans Kalabari road before
he leaves office next year.
The governor, while cancelling the contract for the reconstruction of
Kalabari National College due to foreseen politics, announce the release
of more fund for the Maryhood Girls Secondary school in the area to
speed up its completion.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Rivers State Elders Forum, Chief
Ferdinand Anabraba explained that the grand reception is significant for
two reasons; of its critical importance to them as a people and also
because of the unity of purpose engendered among them under the Wike’s
administration
He said it is that kind of reception organised for prominent sons and
friends who have impacted the Kalabari people.
Chief Anabraba noted that Governor Wike has systematically fulfilled all
promises made to them including those of development projects and
appointment of Kalabari people into his administration.
He listed some of the projects completed or ongoing to include the phase
1 of Trans -Kalabari Road project other administration promises but
failed to execute for over 17 years, the rehabilitation and equipping
of zonal and general hospitals, secondary schools, Abonnema Ring road,
sandfilling in Obonoma, Abonnema, Bakana and Oboama, Abalama
communities.
Also speaking, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port
Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs opined that Kalabari people have
enthusiastically and with relentless vigor, contributed to the growth
and development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
It follows therefore, according to him, that it is appropriate, and
should be considered right thing for the Kalabari people to expect
return for the dues that they had paid.
On his part, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs said the Kalabari people are
expecting Governor Wike to also ensure that Kalabari people are brought
out from the political wilderness in 2023.
A human rights activist, Ann Kio-Briggs noted that Rivers State, though
a complex place to govern does not mean that the people do not love each
other.
She however, harped on greater unity among the people while urging
Governor Wike not to relent in what he is doing for the Kalabari people,
the State and the region.