Rivers: Wike Suffers Another Setback As Coordinators Of His Group Switch Loyalty To Fubara
The political structures of former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike seems to be depreciating fast and moving in favour of his political opponent, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This followed a major setback for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as more of his loyalists made up of members of Local Government Coordinators of Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a political pressure group that was instrumental in the mobilization for his 2015 governorship elections in Rivers State, have declared their support for Governor Fubara.
Leaders of the group declared that they and their supporters resolved that they are no longer members of GDI as they have resolved to be with Rivers people, stressing that the interest of Rivers State remains paramount above any other interest.
The political development took place less than a week after the Councillor representing Wike’s ward resigned his position and declared support of Fubara.
Forefront News gathered that the 12 coordinators represent Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt City, Opobo/Nkoro, Gokana, Bonny, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
Mr Collins Onunwo, former coordinator in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area led the delegation to Governor Fubara at the Government House in Port Harcourt during which he said they resolved to resign their leadership positions in the GDI in order to protect, defend and promote the interest of Rivers State as against the interest of an individual who is desirous of colonising the State.
Onunwo said the group has no option but to support Fubara, having freely given their votes and mandate to him, a decision that was further affirmed by the Supreme Court.
The GDI former leader said; “We have come to join millions of Rivers women, youths, elders, and other well-meaning people who insist that we must protect our votes to sustain democracy.
“Our concern is that we voted for PDP and Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and we must protect that mandate with all we have.
We want the public, Rivers people, and all Nigerians to know that GDI is the group founded by the former governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. “That group brought him to power in 2015 and supported his ambition in 2019. That group is his strength.
“Today, Rivers’ interest is to protect our votes that brought in Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Executive Governor of Rivers State in the most credible, fair, and violence-free election,” he said.
Onunwo also warned those fighting against the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie, to retrace their steps, or prepare to face the wrath of Rivers youths, women, and elders.
Speaking in turn, the former Public Relations Officer of GDI ACF, Christian Abu, said that the simple message is that the ex-GDI coordinators just resigned to get Simplified.
Abu said that GDI has been the vehicle and political structure for the successes recorded in the previous elections in the state, stressing that getting “Simplified” means that the strategies, movement, and vehicle that always conveyed electoral successes to the previous administrations have brought the same support to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
In his words; “Our support for him today is total, and unwavering. We are committed and dedicated to his victory and mandate.
“We had sleepless nights to achieve this victory, and we have come to protect the mandate freely given to Sir Siminalayi Fubara under the platform of the PDP,” he stressed.
