Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, on Saturday, received thousands of decampees from various Political Parties into the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.
Governor Wike commended the decampees for their courage to rejoin their political family because it is true that there is no other political party that can win an election in Rivers State except the PDP.
“PDP is a household name in Rivers State. Let me assure you that we will all work with you. Nothing like somebody who has been there since and somebody who has just come back. The more the merrier.
“So, all of us must put hands together to make sure our governorship candidate, the National Assembly candidates, the House of Assembly candidates, at least from Rivers State, we return them 100 percent. That’s our primary duty.”
The governor dismissed efforts by other political candidates as mere attempts to appear on the ballot because there is no hope of winning for them.
Governor Wike enthused that the chance of winning that PDP has is hinged on the fact that the party and his administration have served to protect the interest of the State courageously.
“If God gives you the ticket of PDP in this State, go home and sew your cloth for the inauguration day.
“Because what will any Rivers man or woman be saying that he or she wants to vote for any other person in Rivers State? As a party, we have kept faith in our people. As a party, we have stood for our people. As a party, we have never allowed intimidation from any quarter and that is what we are talking about the interest of Rivers State.
“Remember, before I came on board, one state had our property with them. As I came in as governor, with the support and prayer of our people we took all our property back.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike said a new strategy will be adopted for the coming political season in which political ‘big men’ will be replaced with people who are domicile among their people in various communities. According to him, those who are domicile with their people will be utilized to deliver their units and wards during the general elections.
Rivers State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor said the party is presenting a certificate to acknowledge the excellent performance of Governor Wike because he has surpassed their expectations.
Ambassador Akawor stated that the decampees from the other political parties have witnessed the unequal transformational performance of Governor Wike in office.
He listed the establishment of the Nabo Graham Douglas campus of Nigerian Law School in the State, the Real Madrid Academy, and Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases Diagnostics and Treatment Centre among other reputable projects of the reasons why the decampees have returned to the PDP.
Speaking on behalf of decampees from Rivers southeast Senatorial District, a former member of All Progressives Congress, APC Board of Trustees, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja said they had a regrettable unsuccessful political expedition while in their former parties, but have retraced their steps back to the PDP on self-volition.
Dr. Jaja described Governor Wike as a compassionate, loving, and graceful leader who was created to do good for the people.
He pledged their 100 percent loyalty and stated that they will join the PDP to uplift the oppressed, reengineer the new phase of the transformation of the state and help the needy to grow.
On behalf of decampees from Rivers East Senatorial District, Princewill Dike said he was a sad man while he served as chief propagandist for the APC because the numerous developmental strides of Governor Wike were too visible to be a lie.
Speaking on behalf of decampees from Rivers West Senatorial District, former Commissioner for Transportation in the Chibuike Amaechi’s administration, George Tolofari, said they are happy to be back home in the PDP.
Similarly, a former chairman of Akuku Toru Local Government, Dr. Theodore Georgewill apologized that they left PDP when they were most needed.
He said they have returned with the assurance that APC is dead, and are determined to deliver 90 percent of the votes because they believe in the leadership of Governor Wike.