Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has said that his political influence in Rivers State has reduced his predecessor and former minister of transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to a “Super nobody”.
The governor stated this Monday night while relishing the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminilayi Fubara as governor-elect for Rivers State following the Governorship and House of Assembly polls held last Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Monday night declared the Opobo-born former Accountant General of Rivers State winner of the election.
The electoral umpire had said that the PDP candidate polled 302,614 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 95,274 votes, while the Social Democratic Party candidate, Senator Magnus Abe came a distant third with 46,981.
Speaking shortly after the INEC declaration, Governor Wike stated that Rivers State has once again reasserted itself as one of the premier strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country following the victory of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as governor-elect.
The governor noted that despite the evil machination of the opposition, the PDP has consistently won all the governorship elections in the State since 2015.
The Rivers State governor, who was visibly elated by Fubara’s resounding victory, told PDP leaders at the Government House, Port Harcourt that the State would continue to remain pivotal to the successes of the PDP.
“Whom God has blessed, no one can curse. There is nothing anyone can do about it. God at this time has said Siminalayi Fubara will be the next governor, and we give God the glory today that that has happened.
“We won 23 local governments, 23 over 23. It has never happened. Out of the 32 State constituencies, we have won 31, the remaining one they said we will go for a bye-election. We are ready and we will take that one.
“So, we have said to anybody who cares, Rivers State is PDP. When you annoy us, we do another thing. When we wanted to vote for the unity of the country, we showed it. We didn’t do anti-party, but we voted for the unity of the country and that is what we did for one Nigeria.”
Wike, who dedicated the electoral victories of the PDP in the just concluded general elections to Almighty God and the people of Rivers State, commended party stalwarts for remaining steadfast in defense of the State since he assumed office in 2015.
“Let me thank all of you for the support you have given us, how you stood firm to make sure that we defend what is Rivers State. In 2015, we did it, in 2019, we did it and in 2023, we have done it again. So, it is not surprising, God has always been with us.”
Wike said he would remain eternally grateful to God because when he first contested for the office of governor in 2015, his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi was the incumbent, and was antagonistic to his political aspiration.
The governor while mocking his predecessor for resorting to divisive and disgusting politicking during the electioneering period, said the resounding victory of the PDP has further diminished Amaechi’s political relevance in Rivers State.
“When we came out in 2015, we were not in government. There was a governor (Amaechi) then in 2015. He was the Director General (DG) of the Muhammadu Buhari campaign. In 2019, he was a super Minister and was also DG of Buhari campaign. He never gave him (Buhari) 25 percent. 2015, he never gave him 25 percent.”
“This is 2023, and they cannot get 25 percent vote in the State, we have also defeated him. You were a super governor, we defeated you. You were a super minister, we defeated you, now, you are a super nobody, and we defeated you.”
Wike, however, cautioned PDP members not to be complacent because the opposition which he likened to “enemies” are still prowling around.
