As the Supreme Court delivered judgement on Governorship Election in Rivers State, a traditional ruler has advised the Governorship Candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 General Elections, Engr Biokpomabo Awara, to not nurture thoughts plotting against Governor Nyesom Wike because of the judgement of the apex court.
Paramount ruler of Mgbundukwu Community in Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Royal Highness Eze Owabie Tobin, who gave the advice in an interview on Friday said Awara should work for well-being of Rivers State and not collaborate with others against Wike-led administration in the state.
His Royal Highness Tobin said: “I speak to Awara as my son. If Awara has good thoughts for Rivers State let him then not go and create any trouble or go and team up with people to make sure they destabilize the Nyesom Wike government because of Supreme Court judgement which was against him.”
He said the AAC governorship candidate should work with Governor Wike to develop the state, saying that Wike would receive him with open arms if he decides to work with him in developing the state.
He said Awara should show love for Rivers State and not be part of any plan to cause trouble in the state saying he should understand his name has been recorded in history as one who ran for Governor of Rivers State in 2019 General Elections.
He appealed to Governor Wike to welcome Awara with open arms if he decides to work with him in development of the state.
It will be recalled Supreme Court recently upheld Governor Wike’s victory in 2019 general elections by upholding two appeals by Governor Wike against Court of Appeal.
Governor Wike while reacting to the judgement said he expected the judgement because candidate of the African Action Congress could not have won the governorship election in Rivers State when he did not take part in the election.
Governor Wike said: “I expected the confirmation because the law is clear: The man who is challenging us never contested any election. So he could not have won, … a man that I never knew till a few days to the election, how would it have been that the man won the election? So, I expected that the court would do the right thing which they did”.
He commended the judiciary for doing well saying he has confidence in the country’s judiciary.
The Chairman of People’s Democratic Party in Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah, while also reacting to the judgement said the judgement had destroyed all gang-ups against Governor Wike.
Obuah who made the statement in a press release by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Pastor Jerry Needam, said that power belongs to God and expressed gratitude to God for the judgement by Supreme Court.
Reacting to the judgement, the candidate of African Action Congress, Engr. Biokpomabo Awara, had alleged he was betrayed by some of his party members whom he said worked with Governor Wike against his petition.
The AAC governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections said: “The Supreme Court in their wisdom set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal and technically upheld Governor Wike’s victory. Indeed, it’s on good record that my party (AAC) was infiltrated with greed and corruption and thus some party men with unholy and unpatriotic desires clothed with tainted hands overtly worked for Governor Wike at the tribunal and all through the Appeal process”.
He alleged that he was pressured to drop his petition challenging victory of Governor Wike in the 2019 general elections.
The AAC governorship candidate in Rivers State said: “We all knew how I was pressured by the high and mighty in our society and severally offered billions to abandon my petition but vehemently refused… Though we lost, my happiness is that our fight was a good fight of faith and my happiness is that Rivers people stood by me”.
He said he was grateful to Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, saying: “I am indebted to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and with all due respect, I don’t know how to thank him and his APC family in Rivers State that adopted me as their governorship candidate in the 2019 general election”.
While appealing to members of his party to continue to be law-abiding, Awara had said that they should pray to have better opportunity to do the people of Rivers State proud again.
