We Shall Support Atiku to Victory in 2019, Says Wike

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he would wholeheartedly support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to electoral victory in 2019.

Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday during a special thanksgiving service for the successful hosting of 2018 PDP national convention, Wike declared that at the convention, he promoted the candidature of Sokoto State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal, but accepts the choice of the party as the way forward.

He said: “I supported the Sokoto State Governor, Tambuwal, fully. I have no regrets for my support for Tambuwal.

“But the party has made a choice, and as a loyal party man, I stand by the choice of the party. I will support His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar to victory in 2019. That is what is called party loyalty.”

The governor described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a hopeless party that has failed Nigeria, pointing out that all Nigerians must work diligently towards sacking the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“We must put our heads together to ensure that this bad government is sacked. We must ensure that this bad government goes in 2019.

“If this same government returns in 2019, then Nigerians are digging their graves. The suffering now will be a child’s play. That is why we must work for the good of our people,” he said.

He said after the special thanksgiving service that all Nigerians must head to the fields to work for the victory of the PDP in 2019.

The governor stated that the PDP would win in Rivers State despite the ‘evil machinations of the APC federal government’, adding that he would complete his mission in Rivers State through a resounding victory in 2019.

On the successful hosting of the national convention, Wike noted that he stood his ground because of the economy of Rivers State and the fact that the state remains the home of PDP since 1999.

“Rivers State has made PDP proud and we shall continue to make PDP proud. God lives in Rivers State,” he said.

Wike reiterated that PDP is alive today because of the kind of National Chairman that emerged in the person of Prince Uche Secondus.

Secondus, in his remarks, called on Nigerians to work towards taking back the country from the brink of destruction.

He said: “Let us take back our country from destruction. Everything about this country has collapsed.”

The party national chairman noted that after the national convention, the party leadership has been involved in fence mending to bring all groups on the platform to work for the victory of the PDP in 2019.

He said Atiku is the best candidate to drive the country to growth and prosperity.

“APC will be finally buried in February 2019,” he said.

Secondus thanked the government and people of Rivers State for hosting the most successful convention in the history of Nigerian party politics.

He charged the security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work towards free and fair elections in 2019, saying the plot by the APC federal government to rig would be resisted.

In his sermon, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, said the PDP is right to thank God for the successful hosting of the national convention, noting that it is a platform for greater success.

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, said despite the obstacles, God ensured that the national convention is the best ever.

The Thanksgiving Service attracted PDP faithful from the 23 local government areas of the state.