Wike said Rivers had been treated badly in the past despite the bulk votes delivered to the PDP since 1999.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, of disrespecting Rivers.
While inaugurating the Rivers State PDP campaign council in Port Harcourt on Monday, Wike said Atiku and the PDP leadership have shown that they place no value on Rivers by picking people from the state into the presidential campaign council without his input.
Subtly calling on Rivers people not to vote the PDP in 2023, Wike said those who disrespected the state and its electoral importance do not deserve Rivers electorate to vote for them or their candidates next year.
He said: “The presidential candidate entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself on them?
“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the state, without the contribution from us. So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the state, the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.”
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Wike said Rivers had been treated badly in the past despite the bulk votes delivered to the PDP since 1999, lamenting that politicians could not continue to demand Rivers votes and yet be unwilling to accommodate the state’s interest.
Wike said: “Politics is a game of interest. If nobody accommodates the interest of Rivers State, then we have nothing to do with such people. If you say you that you have no interest in Rivers State, Rivers State will not have your own interest. It is only those who like us that we will like.
“I have told people who care, Rivers State has voted PDP since 1999. Of this support we have given since 1999 till now, can you mention one thing that we have gotten in this state? Can you mention one road that we have gotten. All they care about is to use Rivers State to bring votes, after bringing votes, you push us aside. That will not happen again.”