The Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has warned loyalists of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party that Nigerians will never forgive them if they allow electoral victory to elude them in the 2023 General Election.
Wike gave the warning during a meeting of PDP stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday where he tasked the party faithful to form a formidable united force to run the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) out of political power.
The governor’s remarks was made available in a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant on Media
According to the governor, the APC, has through its anti-people economic policies inflicted hardship on the masses and Nigerians are already disenchanted with the APC.
“We have all said that Nigerians are waiting for PDP to take over in 2023. That is true. But we cannot take over if we are not united. We cannot take over if we don’t work together.
“Nigerians are already disenchanted with the APC led Federal Government that has through its anti-people economic policies inflicted hardship on the masses.
“APC’s poor governance is clearly manifested in widespread poverty in Nigeria, insecurity, poor electricity supply, scarcity of petroleum products.
“It is for us to put our house together and make Nigerians proud.
“Because if we don’t take over in 2023, Nigerians will never forgive PDP. All the opportunity abounds and so we must take this opportunity and make Nigerians happy.”
The governor said PDP has realised its past mistakes, and when given another opportunity will not take Nigerians for granted as the ruling APC is doing today.
Wike stressed on the urgency of unity among party members saying it is the only way they could wrest power from the APC.
“The only way PDP could wrest political power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government in 2023 is for it to remain united.
“Now that Nigerians have opened the door for us, we must make Nigerians happy. This (APC) government is a government of excuses. Every morning, one excuse. Every afternoon, one excuse, and in the night, one excuse. I’ve never seen a party that makes a promise without fulfilling the promise.”
Governor Wike said the Federal Government declaration that it has deleted Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act smacks of corruption.
The governor made a case for the South-South geo-political zone saying that the zone has remained a pillar of the PDP from its inception.
He tasked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to treat the South-South geopolitical zone with fairness, justice and equity.
The governor noted that having consistently voted for the PDP since 1999, the party cannot at this crucial moment ignore the South-South’s constructions to its success.
“The South-South is the pillar of the PDP. If the South-South is the pillar of the PDP, they must be treated with fairness, justice and equity. It is not only when it comes to work, it is not only when it comes to giving votes, that we will all remember that the South-South is the pillar. When it also comes in terms of sharing, they should remember that this is the pillar of the party,” he said.
Wike charged his colleagues, National Assembly members and other stakeholders from the South-South zone to set aside their differences in the overall interest of the PDP.