A pressure group, the Rivers Redemption Group (RRG), has advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to endorse the governorship ambition of Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, as doing so would definitely backfire.

Wike is a leading governorship contender for the 2015 polls on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). RRG believes, however, that he will not be able to wrest the state from the grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In an open letter to President Jonathan, a copy of which was sent to News Express by e-mail, RRG wrote:

“Dear President Goodluck Jonathan,

“Do not endorse Chief Nyesom Wike for Governor

“It is with deep concern that we pen this letter to you concerning the emerging realities within the political space of Rivers State.

“We hear that the current Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, wants to run for the office of the Governor of Rivers State and true to type, he tells his followers and others who want to listen that he has the tacit support of your wife and a few other party stalwarts from Rivers State.

“What started out as a rumour has become a verifiable truth. Nyesom Wike has made it clear that he wants to be the next Governor of Rivers State. He is now speaking up for himself.

“We hear that he has been railroading key Rivers stakeholders to endorse him. We hear that he has been threatening those who refuse to endorse him.

“We hear that he has been insulting those who have kicked and spoken against his gubernatorial ambition.

“We hear that he has insulted almost all the other candidates who seek to run for the office of the Governor of Rivers State under the flag of the PDP and cast aspersions on their ability to lead Rivers State.

“We hear he insulted Candidate Nimi Walson Jack. We hear he insulted Reynolds Beks Dagogo-Jack. We hear he insulted Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs and called the others names.

“Mr. President, please do not ENDORSE Nyesom Wike for the Office of Governor of Rivers State. HE is not fit to be Governor of Rivers State.

“Also, it will be an affront on the sensibilities of the people of Rivers State for Nyesom Wike, an Ikwerre man, to even consider running for Governor after 8 years of Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi who is also of Ikwerre ethnic stock.

“Only last week, Minister Nyesom Wike attacked Ms. Ann Kio Briggs, Chief Sara Igbe and the many others who had been calling for fairness in the manner with which PDP candidate for the 2015 poll emerges. He called them ethnic jingoists and questioned the legitimacy of their continued call for zoning.

“He asked them how they intend to win Rivers State for President Jonathan and whether they can even win elections in their own wards.

“Is Nyesom Wike saying that except he is made Governor of Rivers State, he cannot support your re-election as President in 2015?

“Must he be GOVERNOR before he can work for you? How about the thousands, hundreds and millions who make it a duty to work for you everyday even without reward? Where is justice for them? Where is fairness?

“Was he Governor in 2011 when Rivers people massively voted for you?

Did Nyesom Wike go to war with Amaechi because he wanted to be Governor or because he was fighting for YOU?

“Did he foist his own PDP leadership in Rivers State so that they will in turn foist him on Rivers people?

“What manner of greed and base avarice has overcome this man who you appointed Minister of State for Education?

“Mr. President, by putting himself forward for Governor and foisting himself on the PDP leadership as the candidate that must be chosen, Nyesom Wike has shown that he is indeed not a man of character.

“It would have been a lot more honourable if he had led the PDP to assemble a team of key stakeholders to scout for a candidate of honour, credibility and candor who can deliver democratic dividends and political stability to Rivers State and Rivers people.

“Mr. President, by allowing Nyesom Wike to single-handedly own and run the PDP party and its secretariat in Rivers State, you may be making the same mistake that Governor Rotimi made. We hope this is not worse.

“Our dear President, Nyesom Wike cannot be encouraged to run for Governor even though we accept that he has helped to support PDP in Rivers State in his position as Minister.

“Mr. President, will you encourage an Ogbia, Otueke, Bayelsa or even Niger Delta man to run for the Office of President after your second tenure ends in 2019?

“Can Nyesom Wike even mobilise better than the more cultured Celestine Omehia given the same resources and leverages?

“In all this, we remain committed to your leadership as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Yet again Mr. President, IF Nyesom Wike RUNS, We will RUN.”

•Photo shows Rivers PDP governorship aspirant Nyesom Wike.

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