Why I resisted pressure to join APC – Gov Wike finally opens up

Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, has stated that he resisted many appeals from some notable Nigerians to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the governor Wike on media, Kelvin Ebiri, said he refused to yield to the pressure because he is a man of character.

Newsflash247 gathered that Governor Wike spoke on Thursday, December 24, when he led the governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu to inaugurate the chief Orabule Adiele road, Rumuolumeni, formerly known as Aker-Base road in Rumuolumeni community of Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers state.

He said it was unimaginable to leave PDP, adding that the party has continued to hold the promise of good leadership for the country and remains the only hope for Nigerians who are also waiting to vote it into power in 2023.

He said: “PDP is a party that Nigerians want. No matter all the intimidation, it will not work. We are men of character. When we say something we stand by whatever we have said, not for pecuniary interest.

“If I was that kind of governor, I know how many times people have tried to woo us, we said no. We cannot be wooed. We are here. We started with PDP and will end up with PDP.

“We have no other political party to join because the fate of this country, the hope of Nigerians, solely depends on our party.

“That is why when we talk about our party, we are not talking about any selfish interest. But it is to continue to give Nigerians that hope that Nigeria is waiting for.”

He said everybody is hoping that in 2023 PDP would take over the realms of power in this country, saying Rivers state is already secured for PDP.

The governor, who berated Senator James Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said “Ask him, where he voted in 2019. He voted for PDP.  Let him keep his mouth shut before I will tell APC what he did.  People like that shouldn’t talk to us.”

He described Akpanudoedehe as a political harlot, who lacked the character to talk about national issues without subjecting it to pecuniary interests.

“The National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) said I am playing to the gallery, and that I am economical with the truth. That, after all, Federal Government has been fighting insecurity and that they gave us bail-out money.

“Bail-out money is not free money. We are paying back the money. But even if they gave us free money, does it mean that if anything is going wrong, I shouldn’t talk?

“We agree that there’s a problem in the country. Even the governors agreed that they are faced with security challenges. Yes, you’re overwhelmed with security challenges but whose responsibility is it to fix the security in this country.

“The National Secretary of APC has been a life time governorship aspirant. He has no character; yesterday, he was Tinubu, today he is with Minister of Transportation because he wants to be governor.

“Such characters cannot talk to people like us because we have character. A man without character does not have what it takes. I cannot jump from one place to another simply because you want to be governor by all means.

“Ask him, where did he vote in 2019. He voted for PDP.  Let him keep his mouth shut before I will tell APC what he did.  People like that shouldn’t talk to us.”

Speaking further, Governor Wike renamed the Aker-Base Road as Chief Orabule Adiele in honour of an illustrious son of the Rumuolumeni community and said he will continue to develop infrastructure in the area because of their support to his governorship.

Governor Wike also announced that the Nkpor-Mgbuosimini road has been rewarded to Lubrick Construction company and work will commence in 2021.

In inaugurating the road, Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu described Governor Wike as a brand, an icon, and symbol of everything good and a blessing to Nigeria.

He said using concrete pavements in road construction is with the understanding that it is the best for the topography and designed to last and urged the people to utilise the road with good care.

Rivers State Commissioner for Works Hon. Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the poor state of the road impeded movement and frustrated commerce but respite has come to both residents and companies that operate in the area.

Meanwhile, Newsflash247 had previously reported that following the rumour about the alleged plan by the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, to dump the PDP, the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the north-central have swung into action.

It was reported that the governors, who visited Ortom in Makurdi on Sunday, December 20, were allegedly at the state Government House to woo their counterpart back into the APC.

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