Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said that the recent Supreme
Court Judgement which affirmed his election averted bloodbath in the state
and restored hope in the Judiciary.
Wike said he would have been forced out of the Governorship race had the
Supreme Court ruled for a rerun election because of what he termed “the
evil plot to use security forces to instigate a loss of lives in the
state.”
The governor spoke on Sunday at a Thanksgiving service at Saint Peter’s
Anglican Church that attracted PDP leaders across the country. In
attendance were Governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Seriake
Dickson of Bayelsa State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and the Deputy
Governor of Ebonyi State.
Also present was the Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, former
Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and Celestine Omehia and National and
State Legislators.
Governor Wike noted that God worked in his time by reversing what several
persons thought was irreversible with the previous judgments of the
Election Tribunal and the Appeal Court.
He said: “Nothing is impossible with God. Men of God prophesied a few days
to the Supreme Court that the judgment will confirm the mandate given to
us by the Rivers people.
“We won the election clearly as has been confirmed by the Supreme Court.
If there was a rerun, I wouldn’t have contested because there would
have been bloodbath. I resolved not to be part of anything that would
bring bloodbath. ”
Governor Wike said that an evil plot had been hatched to arrest him,
detain him to discourage Rivers people before the Legislative
elections earlier scheduled for February 6.
According to him, the political powers were already indiscriminately
arresting PDP members and leaders across the state, preparatory to the
rerun elections.
He assured the people of Rivers State that he will judiciously use the
mandate to advance the course of development in the state.
The governor reiterated his earlier declaration that he will not
allow the rigging of the rerun elections in the State, noting that
any INEC staff who attempts to rig will be treated as an armed robber.
He said: “I am the executive governor of Rivers State and a strong one for
that matter. We will support INEC to conduct credible elections.
However, any official who plans to rig will get the treatment reserved for
armed robbers “.
He noted that the failure of the evil plotters means that Rivers people
will return all the Legislators whose elections were nullified by the
Appeal Court.
Governor Wike declared called for a comprehensive fight against
corruption, urging support for the prosecution for all those who stole
Rivers money to sponsor APC National election campaign.
He said that between December 1 and 18 of 2014; the former Rivers State
Government used 150 million United States Dollars to fund the APC
elections. He said that the State Government will recover all stolen
funds.
The governor assured the Rivers State APC Governorship Candidate, Dakuku
Peterside that he will be accommodated in the process of developing the
state. He added that Dakuku Peterside is not an orphan, saying that: “I
will be a father to Dakuku Peterside. He is not an orphan “.
In his sermon, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Dr Ignatius Kattey said
that the victory of Governor Wike at Supreme Court has brought peace to
the state. He called on the governor to be father of all the people of
the state.