Dangerous hints that may spell doom for the embattled but rival All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State emerged at a rally on Thursday, January 31, 2019, where a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state boasted that the travails of the main opposition party would not abate.
APC was barred by a Port Harcourt High Court from contesting the elections and this was upheld also by a Port Harcourt Federal High Court. The appeal has been on but the electoral umpire (INEC) has since removed the APC from the ballot. APC says it will come out of the problem at higher courts but the PDP candidate for Rivers East Senatorial District, George Sekibo dropped this hint: “APC sowed the wind and they were reaping the whirlwind. APC will not escape their self-inflicted crisis.”
Many APC leaders have continued to point fingers at the PDP and the state governor for allegedly using their influence in Rivers judiciary to get damning verdicts for an APC chieftain fighting to stop his party. The APC leaders believe that their member was working with the state governor to undo the party. The PDP is believed to have upper hand in the judiciary due to many reasons. Such a hint seemed to confirm the fears of most APC members and the optimism of many PDP members.
Sekibo, a former transport minister and senator who was unseated by the APC from the senate and wants to go back, said Okrika people were totally in support of the Rivers State Governor. He said that the visit was to celebrate the movement towards Brick House and the various Assemblies.
The state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has however warned that nobody would be allowed to manipulate the elections of the state irrespective of the deployment of soldiers and security agencies he described as pliant.
This is as the governor commissioned the Okrika Island Water Reticulation Scheme. The new water scheme would cover 11 kilometres of the Island community. He also launched health plans for another local council area.
The governor stated that Rivers people have resolved to defend their votes across the 4,442 polling stations, though he did not mention where such resolution across board was made.
Speaking during the PDP campaign rally at Okrika Local Government Area on Thursday, January 31, 2019, Gov Wike said that the choice of the people must prevail. He said: “Nobody can subvert the will of Rivers people during the forthcoming general elections. Anybody who comes to rig in the state will face the consequences. Allow Rivers people to vote persons of their choice. Nobody can steal our votes in Rivers State “.
He said that he has used his mandate to keep his pledges to the people. He assured that his second term will be used to improve on his quality achievements. “Ensure you defend your votes. Nobody can hijack materials here in Okrika”.
The governor assured Okrika people of the provision of electricity, key infrastructure, and presence in government. He called on the people to overwhelmingly vote for Atiku Abubakar and other PDP candidates during the forthcoming elections.
Rivers State PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, presented PDP candidate for Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Sekibo, PDP candidate for Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency and PDP Candidate for Okrika State Constituency, Linda Somiari Stewart to the people for the 2019 General elections.
Former Nigerian International, Adokiye Amiesimaka said that Governor Wike is a faithful servant of Rivers people who proven himself as an indigene of all the 23 Local Government Areas.
He charged the people to cast their votes exclusively for PDP and stand to defend their votes from riggers.
Commissioner for Youths, Akuro Tobin said the governor’s projects will create a good future for the youths of the state.
Remnants of APC members in the area defected to the PDP during the campaign rally.
Meanwhile, Wike, who has been rolling round the state campaigning with the APC in view due to court orders, has pledged to intensify health sector development during his second term. Gov Wike also stated that 40 percent of the 7000 civil servants to be employed by his administration would be allocated to the health sector.
Speaking during an interactive session with the health sector on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Gov Wike said several key infrastructural facilities have been developed in the course of his first term. “Our first term has been used to revive the health sector. Several key projects sited in different parts of the state have given the sector a new lease of life. We met a decayed health sector, but today the health sector is functional.
“We have reconstructed 13 General Hospitals in the state. And we are constructing Zonal Tertiary Hospitals in different parts of the state. These health facilities have reshaped the sector”, he said.
He added that the administration will also invest in the training and retraining of Medical Professionals during his second term.
“We will focus on manpower development in the state’s health sector. The training and retraining of health professionals will receive very important attention “, he said.
The governor stated that his administration will complete and commission the ultra modern Mother and Child Hospital in the next three months. He said that the equipment of the hospital are on ground.
He said that his administration initiated and built the College of Medical Sciences at the Rivers State University, while the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital has been established.
“About $16million dollars has been expended to acquire equipment for the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. The hospital has been positioned to serve Rivers people and meet their health challenges “, he said.
The governor urged the medical professionals to stand firm and vote for the PDP to start the recovery of the country at the national level.
Governor Wike said the revolving loan scheme for private medical practitioners has run into a hitch because the doctors refused to pay back the loans.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Social Works, Mrs Inime Aguma said that Governor Wike has fulfilled his key promises in the health sector and should be given the opportunity to consolidate .
Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State, O. Adebiyi, thanked Gov Wike for the investments in the health sector. She assured the governor of the doctors support for his re-election.
Rivers State Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Nurse Regina Kuru said that steps taken by Governor Wike to improve the health sector will be rewarded by total support from the nurses.
Chairman of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Dr Mrs George Opuda commended the governor for his commitment to healthcare delivery.
Ignatius Chukwu
