PDP has Collapsed every Other Party – Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State had collapsed other political parties into its fold.

According to Wike, many politicians in Rivers are abandoning their affiliation with their respective parties and joining the PDP.

According to the governor, politicians are defecting because they are happy with the continuous infrastructure improvements made by his administration, and they think the PDP is a better party to support.

During the flag-off of the 11th flyover project on Thursday at the Rumuola-Ikwerre Road-Rumuokwuta Roundabout in the State’s Obio Akpor Local Government Area, former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke made the claims.

Wike stated during the ceremony that the state’s other political parties’ continued decline in membership strength is unquestionably a political advantage for the PDP.

“We have collapsed every other party. Every day, people from the All Progressives Congress (APC) join our party. We are here doing that, and some people are in Abuja; ask them how many persons they have brought to the party.

“It’s not to say I’m supporting our candidate. How many people have you brought to help your candidate? We are here every day, bringing people to join our party, and you are there following your candidate from Abuja to Adamawa. Is it there you’ll win the votes? Come back home.”

“This Local Government alone, Obio Akpor, where I come from, registered not less than 600 thousand voters. This local government beats two States in their electoral strength.

“So, we are not a state that you can take for granted, not to talk about the Local Government where I come from.

“I believe they must know us here because we have what it takes to deliver. They must come and know us. I’m not going to find anybody. You must come here. You can’t take 600 and something thousand votes away from my local government. You can’t take 3.2million votes from my State just like that.”

Governor Wike stressed that the time voters and supporters gave their support to politicians in exchange for nothing in return is passed.

“If we were father Christmas before, we won’t be father Christmas again? You must tell me what is there for me if I should vote. So, nobody should bother himself. At the appropriate time, we will talk to our people, who will understand.

“If you say we don’t exist, we will tell you that you don’t exist. I am not a son to anybody. I am a son of Rivers State. I am working to attract what will benefit Rivers State.”

The infrastructure projects, according to Governor Wike, show how his administration has used Rivers funds to address significant socioeconomic issues.

He said that because they will effectively manage traffic-related issues, the 12 flyovers built over the next three years will be valued more.

To ensure that every project initiated by his government was finished, Governor Wike emphasised that everything had been done to ensure that finances were accessible.

“As of yesterday (Wednesday), I have released the money to compensate for every property affected here.

“We have paid for relocating the electric poles and property from Mgbuoba to Ozuoba. We have paid for the relocation of electric poles and property on Azikwe-Iloabuchi Road. So, the total compensation we have produced is N4.3b.

The governor further disclosed that Julius Berger Nigeria PLC began deducting N2 billion from the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account in July and will continue to do so for the following ten months to complete the construction of the 11th and 12th flyovers.

Former governor of Cross River, Donald Duke, who led the flag-off, stated that Nigeria has hope because of the leadership skills governor Wike has shown.

Duke praised Governor Wike for carrying out initiatives, especially the flyovers that have transformed Port Harcourt into a livable metropolis.

He also mentioned the medical assistance individuals with cancer would receive from the  Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiologist Condition Diagnostic Centre due to the terminal nature of the disease.

The 11th flyover, which runs from the Ebony junction on Rumola road to the Seventh Day Adventist church on Ikwerre road, is 1007.5 meters long, according to Rivers State Commissioner for Works Dr Dakorinama George-description Kelly’s of the project.