Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has called on the people of Rivers State to fully support President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience to continue with the exemplary transformation of the state, pointing out that the state cannot afford to jettison the position of a serving President for any other position in the country.
The Minister who spoke as the Grand Patron of the Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI, during the grand-finale of the unit inauguration and reception in his honour at Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday, pointed out that President Jonathan has been diligent in his service to the people of Rivers State, the South-South geo-political zone and the nation at large.
The grand reception was attended by members of the National Assembly, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive of the PDP, traditional rulers, women and youth groups, former council chairmen, former commissioners and former legislators. Thousands of indigenes of Obio/Akpor local government area defied the down-pour to show solidarity with President Jonathan and the Minister.
Barr. Wike called on the People of Rivers State to be attentive and throw their weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan, whenever he decides to seek a second term in office, because he deserves it.
He said: “Continue to support President Jonathan, he is our son and his wife is our daughter. We cannot abandon our son. The people of South-South cannot sacrifice our son for anything less than the President”.
On the political situation in Rivers State, Barr. Wike stated that the use of the state resources to fight the ordinary people will not change the course of events, as the people are interested in political emancipation. He urged the political gladiators on the part of the Rivers State Government to be courageous enough to accept the olive branch offered by the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairman and plead for genuine reconciliation.
He stated that despite the sponsored media attack on his person by the state government, it is now obvious that whilst he served in the administration, he used his political influence and experience to attract national and state stability, while since he left, the centre could no longer hold because of the lack of political experience in the state government’s team.
According to Wike: “Money cannot solve all problems. Sometimes you have to come back home and realize that the people matter. We must say here that we are not interested in who becomes the State Police Commissioner, but we are committed to who will be impartial and create the right environment for democracy to thrive. They are calling for the removal of the commissioner because they are looking out for a police commissioner who will do their bidding and effect indiscriminate arrest of innocent people”.
On the injured state legislator, Mr Michael Chinda, the Minister urged Obio/Akpor people to remain calm as justice will prevail. He said nobody will spill the blood of a son of Obio/Akpor and expect to get away from the long arm of the Law.
Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah announced that he has resolved to settle the rift between Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the Minister of State for Education. He said that he has invited both leaders to a reconciliation meeting in his country home next weekend. He said the media war must cease for reconciliation to take place.
In his remark, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara said the time for total change in the politics of Rivers State has come, pointing out that the people are themselves seeking the change. He assured the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Wike that the people were in support of him because of his performance as a minister who has transformed the nation’s basic education.
Former Senate Deputy Whip, Senator Adeware Pepple stated that the political revolution that has been started in the state by Barr. Wike was vital as it will hand over the governance process to the people of the state.
Highpoint of the occasion was an exhibition of transformational projects executed in President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, Community Model Secondary School, Rumuepirikom, Faculty of Law Building, University of Port Harcourt, Lecture Theatre, Ignatius Ajuru University, Rumuolumini. Office Complex, River State Polytechnic, Bori, and e-libraries at Federal Government Girls College, Abuluoma and Federal Government College, Port Harcourt.
