Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has tasked the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to treat the
South-South geopolitical zone
with fairness, justice and equity.
The governor noted that having consistently voted for the
PDP since 1999, the party cannot at this crucial moment ignore the
South-South's contributions to its success.
Governor Wike gave
the admonition during the meeting of PDP stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
last Monday.
"The South-South
is the pillar of the PDP. If the South-South is the pillar of the PDP, they
must be treated with fairness, justice and equity. It is not only when it comes
to work, it is not only when it comes to giving votes that we will all remember
that the South-South is the pillar. When it also comes in terms of sharing,
they should remember that this is the pillar of the party."
For better
performance in the 2023 general elections, Governor Wike charged his
colleagues, National Assembly members and other stakeholders from the
South-South zone to set aside their differences in the overall interest of the
PDP.
"We have all
said that Nigerians are waiting for PDP to takeover in 2023. That is true. But
we cannot takeover if we are not united. We cannot takeover if we don't work
together."
The Rivers state governor stressed that the only way PDP can
wrest political power from the All Progressives Congress (APC government in
2023 is for it to remain united.
He said Nigerians are already disenchanted with the APC
leadership of the Federal Government, which, has through its anti-people
economic policies, inflicted hardship on the masses.
According to the
governor, the APC's poor governance is
clearly manifest in widespread poverty
insecurity, poor electricity supply, scarcity of petroleum products in the
country, an opportunity for the PDP to step in but only if united.
"It is for us
to put our house together and make Nigerians proud because if we don't takeover
in 2023, Nigerians will never forgive PDP. All the opportunity abounds and so
we must take this opportunity and make Nigerians happy."
Wike said the PDP has
realized its past mistakes, and when given another opportunity, will not take
Nigerians for granted as the ruling APC is doing today.
"Now that
Nigerians have opened the door for us, we must make Nigerians happy.
“This (APC) government is a government of excuses. Every
morning, one excuse. Every afternoon, one excuse, and in the night, one excuse.
I've never seen a party that makes promise without fulfilling the
promise."
He said the Federal
Government declaration that it has deleted Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act
smacks of corruption.
Present at the
meeting were Governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta)and
Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and some PDP national officers.