The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) this morning came down hard on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for producing controversial former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesome Ezebunwo Wike, as the party’s flag-bearer for the 2015 gubernatorial election.

Rivers APC in a statement issued in Port Harcourt dismissed Wike’s candidature following yesterday’s primaries boycotted by 17 other aspirants as an imposition and the process that led to it as a macabre dance.

Said the party in the statement signed by its State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya: “We have watched with amusement the macabre dance by PDP and its leadership which culminated in the imposition of Chief Nyesome Wike as the part’s flag-bearer for the 2015 gubernatorial election. To us, the emergence of the cantankerous and disreputable Chief Wike means an easy victory for us as he cannot in any way be compared with our candidate, the very reputable and visionary Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. The battle is now between the Rivers State people and the forces of darkness which the PDP represents.”

Continuing, Rivers APC said: “That Wike could emerge after the alarm unitedly raised by the 16 other PDP aspirants that were duped of their hard-earned money as the outcome of the process had already been determined by forces whose hatred for Rivers State is legendary speaks volumes about the extent to which the Presidency and the PDP national leadership are prepared to go to humiliate the good people of Rivers State. What is more, for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP leadership to disregard the warning and pleas by Rivers State Elders such as Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Chief A.K. Horsefall and Jonathan’s own ethnic Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on the dangers of Wike’s candidature portends to the peace, progress and unity of Rivers State simply demonstrates the level of disdain and scorn that the Presidency and PDP leadership have for Rivers State and her people.”

Rivers APC described Wike’s candidature as illogical and the height of injustice to the Riverine parts of the State. According to the party, “The imposition of Wike from the same Ikwerre tribe with outgoing Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, against the wishes and pleas of other parts of the state paints PDP as being insensitive to the yearnings of Rivers people for equity, justice and fair play in the distribution of power in the state. Rivers State is divided politically alongside Upland and Riverine areas. The Upland has been in power since 1999 till date through Dr. Peter Odilii and Governor Amaechi, governing Rivers State for a cumulative 16 years. Commonsense and justice dictate that after Governor Aamechi, the Riverine area should be given a sense of belonging by being allowed to govern the state. Thus, PDP, if it has any regard for the feelings of Rivers people, ought to have emulated our good example by producing a candidate from the Riverine but it has characteristically squandered this golden opportunity due to the Presidency’s desperation to foist Wike on Rivers State. Let us imagine – but God forbid! – that Wike wins the 2015 election. That means that the Upland would be in power for 24 years to the determinant of the Riverine area. To us, this is the highest level of inhumanity and injustice against our Riverine brothers and sisters.

“The choice of governorship candidates has once more left no doubt about the true colours of APC and PDP. It is now left to the good people of Rivers State to make their choice between darkness (PDP) and Light (APC) during next year’s governorship ballot. We trust them to make the right choice and vote for Dakuku Peterside and APC.”

•Photo shows Rivers APC Chairman, Davies Ikanya.

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