Former Ministers under the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) have
declared their support for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in
the face of what they described as “a political siege on Rivers State as
masterminded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
They asked the governor to stand firm in his defence of democracy.
In a solidarity visit to Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday
night, representatives of the minister under the aegis of Forum of
Former Ministers lauded the governor for being a pillar of democracy and
providing the right leadership for Rivers people.
In a solidarity visit to Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday
night, representatives of the minister under the aegis of Forum of
Former Ministers lauded the governor for being a pillar of democracy and
providing the right leadership for Rivers people.
The Representatives of the Forum of
Former Ministers at the solidarity meeting include former Minister of
Foreign Affairs and former Jigawa State Governor, Dr Sule Lamido; former
Minister of Education and former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim
Shekarau; former Minister of Youth Development and former Adamawa State
Governor, Mr Boni Haruna; former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba
Moro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih; former
Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; and the former
Minister of Labour and Productivity, Ambassador Musa Kazaure.
Chairman of the Forum of Former
Ministers, Dr Sule Lamido, stated that the solidarity visit to Wike was
aimed at encouraging him to remain steadfast and focused in his
promotion of the tenets of democracy.
He said: “We are with you in your
travails. We support you all the way. We know that you are under siege
by anti-democratic forces.
“No matter the tyranny of the oppressor,
the voice of the people must be heard. That was the case of Rivers
State during the Rivers Rerun Elections.”
Lamido regretted that every day,
Nigerians were being divided by the APC-led Federal Government, which
has no respect for the principles of democracy.
The Forum of Former Ministers urged PDP Governors to provide a canopy for the revival of the PDP.
“Nigerians are looking on to the PDP for
salvation and emancipation from the APC. Our governors must stand
together to be our rallying point,” he said.
In his response, Rivers State Governor,
Nyesom Wike, declared that for the Rivers people, they have resolved to
remain with the PDP
He said: “We will continue to stand firm and defend democracy. For us, we have made up our mind. Our family is PDP.
“We are prepared to pay the price. We are determined to work for the PDP at all times.”
The governor said the crisis in the party would soon be resolved in the interest of the country.
He explained that the state has had her rerun elections, learnt the required lessons which would guide it in the future.
“Don’t have sleepless nights. The PDP
will remain strong in Rivers State. We will continue the struggle
against anti-people forces and we shall continue to win,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the governor, has given his
assent to the 2017 Appropriation Law passed by the Rivers State House of
Assembly, with a pledge to accelerate the development of the state.
The State Government budgeted N470
billion for the 2017 Fiscal year, christened “the Golden Jubilee budget
for accelerated development.”
Giving his assent to the 2017 budget,
Wike commended the Rivers State House of Assembly for always placing the
interest of the people above other considerations.
He said: “You passed the budget on time
so that the State Government will continue to deliver dividends of
democracy to the good people of the state.
“I sincerely thank the state lawmakers
for supporting the executive arm to provide basic infrastructure to the
people of the state”.
He assured the people that his
administration would ensure the diligent implementation of the 2017
budget in line with the tenets of the New Rivers Vision.
He said that funds meant for other arms of government would be released as scheduled.
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