RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has disclosed that the ongoing campaigns for candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State does not include the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to Wike, he only campaigns for people who ask him to campaign for them. Therefore, he can’t force himself to campaign for someone who doesn’t ask for it.
Governor Wike spoke in Bonny Town during the Local Government Campaign Flag-off Rally that was organised by the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council on Tuesday.
The Rivers State governor told Bonny people: “Go home and have it on your mind that the PDP in Rivers State, we have taken governorship, we have taken the senatorial, we have taken the House of Representatives and we have taken the House of Assembly.
“That is the election we are doing here. These are the ones (candidates) who told me to come and campaign for them. No other person told me to campaign for him.
“I can’t force myself to campaign for you when you have not asked for it. These ones (candidates) have told me, so, I’ve come here to campaign. If somebody asks you to work for him, you’ll work for him. But if they don’t want you to work for them, will you force them?”
Governor Wike pointed out that anybody who says Rivers State is inconsequential will suffer repercussions for ignoring it.
The governor enjoined all residents in the State to be rest assured that no intimidation and propaganda that can cause a distraction from the political path that has been so chosen.
“Any person who says Rivers State is not important, we will pepper him. Anybody who says he doesn’t regard Rivers State, we would not regard such person.
“There’s nothing like propaganda, nothing like intimidation because nobody can intimidate us. We are very, very solid. We are very strong.
“No State can point at us to determine what will happen here. Nobody can do such. So, be bold to say, I’m from Rivers State, I live in Rivers and I am happy with Rivers. What is important is our State which we have collected.
Governor Wike said it is ludicrous for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to campaign in the State based on the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is their leader, has already adjudged PDP in Rivers as the best in infrastructure delivery in the country.
He said because his administration believes in practice demonstration of governance, 12 flyovers were executed within 4 years, in addition to other development projects that have been delivered.
“All these people who say they are campaigning, what are they campaigning for? President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of APC said I am the best as far as development is concerned. What nature of campaign will they be doing again?”
Speaking further, governor Wike recalled that during the courtesy visit to the Amayanabo of Grand Bonny before coming to the campaign ground, his contributions to the eventual flag-off of the Bonny-Bodo Road were recounted by the monarch.