- Describes Rivers Gov as one man balancing force, invaluable asset for party’s rescue mission
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Amid unresolved issues from the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries, former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, has cautioned the party against toying with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, if its rescue mission in next year’s general elections must succeed.
Describing the Rivers State Chief Executive as an invaluable asset, Mimiko said having stood as a bulwark to resist attempts by some forces that moved to destroy the PDP in its trying moments, the country’s main opposition party must tread carefully in relating with him for all the good reasons and reciprocity.
Mimiko, who spoke while flaging-off the dualisation of Azikiwe-Iloabuchi Road in Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, also praised Governor Wike for always being bold speaking truth to power and thwarting attempts by some desperate politicians to make Nigeria a one-party state
According to him; “You (Wike) were at one point virtually a one-man countervailing force, defending and protecting our dear PDP. You have also, through bold legal challenges, deepened the national consciousness on the defects in the running of our defective federal system.
“Beyond the self-evident physical transformation, you (Wike) have stood as a bulwark against those sworn to emasculate the main opposition party, all in their bid to force a one-party State down the throats of Nigerians.”
“Your Excellency, our Party, the PDP, a Party for which you have laboured so much, seems saddled with the historical duty of forging this unity, a unity premised on truth, equity, and justice, a unity upon which rescuing Nigeria from the far from satisfactory performance of the past seven years will be built,” the former Governor said.
He noted that through bold legal challenges, Wike has deepened national consciousness by combating the defective federal system towards actualising true federalism, urging him to remain committed to the struggle of entrenching true federalism for just development across ethnic divides and religious persuasions in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Mimiko said with PDP having the historical duty to forge and preserve Nigeria’s unity based on truth, equity and justice, “a unity upon which rescuing Nigeria from unsatisfactory performance of the past seven years will be built”, all hands must be on deck to achieve the patriotic mission that has become most urgent at this period of the nation’s existence.
“It is a mission that must be accomplished, a mission for which you are specially positioned and favoured to play a major role, a mission that must be subscribed to by all lovers of our country”, he told the governor.
Governor Wike, in his speech at the occasion, said his administration is focused on fulfilling its promises to the Rivers State people, saying; “Our campaign has always been operation show your report card. We are showing our report card. Tell anybody who comes to you to show his report card”.
He stated that; “As a man who respects leaders, I have to honour them by making sure this road is awarded and completed within six months”, adding; “This is the last project here in Port Harcourt I’m going to embark upon before I leave office.
“All promises I have made in Port Harcourt, I have fulfilled. Let somebody come and tell me which one I have not fulfilled. Because you voted for us, we too will work for you by providing basic infrastructure. That is what politics is all about. It is about talking and doing, not giving of excuses.”
“No right thinking person in this state would want to mingle or identify with such people that would make promises without fulfilling them”, the Governor submitted.
