Rivers Governorship : Barry Mpigi, Chidi Wihioka Dump Abe, Endorse Wike

Two members of the House of Representatives, Hons. Barry Mpigi(APC) and Chidi Wihioka(APC), from Rivers State, have withdrawn their supports for Senator Magnus Abe(APC). Hitherto, they were strong supporters of Senator Abe’s 2019 governorship ambition. Speaking yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt on a solidarity visit to Governor Wike, Hon. Barry Mpigi told the Governor that they have come to ask him to continue till 2023 as they have suddenly realized that he is on course. By this endorsement, Hons. Mpigi and Wihioka have informed the Governor that from henceforth they will support his 2019 Governorship ambition. Addressing the Governor, Hon. Mpigi said: “I can stand bold before the National Chairman my party, you are doing very well. Your Excellency, we like the way you are governing Rivers State. I am asking you to keep it up. Continue to lead the State in the way you are doing.”

It is not clear at the moment why these men have decided to dump Senator Magnus Abe for Governor Wike. Close political watchers say the decision was reached after a rapprochement for which the MPs agreed to drop their support for Senator Magnus Abe ahead of 2019 for their personal gains. Political pundits believe that the erstwhile supporters of Senator Magnus Abe have horse-traded him in the political game. Interest, they say, is the only permanent thing in politics. It must be stated that what these men did cannot be classified under any kind of interest that leaves stakeholders happy.