The Rivers state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed
reports that it has adopted the Supervising Minister for Education, Barr.
Nyesom Wike as its candidate for the 2015 governorship election in the
state.
In a statement signed by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser, Media to the state
PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, the PDP stated this while reacting to the
declaration of seven days fasting by the All Progressives Congress (APC)
which the party says it would be used to pray against the honourable
Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike’s alleged emergence as Rivers PDP guber
candidate.
The PDP added its only concern is the fact that such action by the APC is
not only a waste of time and our resources, but a blasphemy and
sacrilegious as the APC has never shown any disposition to the things of
the Most High God, but has over the period exhibited high rate of
recklessness, violence, insensitivity to the plights of the people,
misappropriation of public funds and peddling of lies and blackmails.
“To set the records straight, the great party, the PDP, has not endorsed
anybody as its governorship candidate or shut its door, which is a winning
platform, against any of its many qualified members, believing that, and
as a respecter of the rule of law and fundamental rights of the citizens,
everyone, no matter his or her ethnic extraction, has the right to contest
and become anything he or she aspires to be at all levels of elections.
“In this regard, the Honorable Minister, Nyesom Wike, like any other
member, could aspire or called upon to fly the party flag as long as it is
the consensus opinion of majority of party faithful
“It is gratifying however, that the APC could not hide its understandable
fears for the possible emergence of a better and suitable candidate like
Chief Nyesom Wike. So rather than deceiving the public on the obvious
motive for the prayer declaration, the APC should come out plainly and
inform the potential prayer “warriors” of threat such candidature poses
to the APC candidate to avoid praying amiss.
“Again, on the APC’s position on Amaechi’s successor, to us, is a
vindication our sustained advocacy on the kind of leadership we expect in
the State. the PDP totally agrees with the APC that Governor Amaechi
should be succeeded by a more efficient, pragmatic, focused, and
honourable person, who will not mortgage the interest of the people and
continue with his (Amaechi) failed projects and (bad) governance that
lacks direction; someone who will ‘surpass it’ and truly deliver the
dividends of democracy to the people. And that is what the mega Party (the
PDP) is up to.
“How can the APC claim to be fair, just and equitable when its leadership
structure is skewed, with all its national officers coming from a
particular religious and ethnic divide? To us, this is a more serious
issue the APC should first address before calling for fasting and prayer,
so that those of other faith who have been deliberately denied leadership
status in the APC could actively participate in the supposedly very
important activity of the emerging party, the APC.”