The lawmaker representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has again reaffirmed the commitment of the Ogoni people to the success of the Wike administration.
Speaking during the PVC sensitization rally of the Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) held in Gokana on Sunday, Rt. Hon. Dekor said Ogonis are happy with Governor Wike and the governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) any time and any day because he has shown an uncommon love towards them.
He said although the event was not a campaign rally, Ogonis have also assured Governor Wike of their readiness to give the PDP governorship hopeful, Amaopuseniobi Siminialaye Fubara all the support he needsas the incoming governor of the state.
“We are here not to campaign but to encourage the people of Gokana to go and collect your PVCs. When the time for campaigns come, the parties will come out”, he said while commending the GDI for embarking on the sensitization rally across the state.
Rt. Hon. Dekor praised Gokana people for coming out in their numbers to see their incoming governor, stressing that the action showed that they do not just love Governor Wike, but his expected successor. He said: “They love Governor Wike because he has made Ogonis proud. We shall stand by Governor Wike and our incoming governor, any time, any day, come rain or shine”.
The federal lawmaker went on: “When a Gokana man tells you go, he means you should go. When he tells you come, he means you should come. At the appropriate time, they would do the needful”.
In his address at the event, PDP chieftain and former Minister, Chief Kenneth Kobani described the mammoth crowd as a tip of the iceberg, adding that the people of Gokana are so ‘Simplified’, hence giving the collection of their PVCs the deserved attention.
“Gokanans are not just Simplified but have gone far above many LGAs in obtaining their PVCs. When we were doing the PVC registration, they thought we were joking. We were doing it because we know that the day would come when the young people of this state would be asked to rise and take a stand. It is now clear and obvious that the young people are going to take over”, Kobani said..
He said it was in fulfillment of that desire to have a governor of their own and someone they could approach and talk to, that the youths of Gokana rushed to get the ‘Sim Cards’ which he called the ‘brother of PVC’.
“People were asking how we did it, and we told them that the people in Gokana want to have a say in the affairs of governance. Now the rules have changed. You can no longer sit somewhere and write results.
What it means is that you must not fail to use your sim cards and PVC wisely to ensure that ‘the PVC is used to bring in the sim card’”, he said.
The rally which attracted the crème-de-la-crème of the Gokana political elites including Dr Fred Kpakol, Chief /Mrs. Priscillia Vikue among others took place at Central State School Mogho.
The mammoth crowd at the rally from the 17 wards of Gokana was intimidating, alluding to the overwhelming support Gokana people have given to the GDI as confirmed by stakeholders during their solidarity speeches.
Describing the mammoth crowd at the rally, Chairman of Inter Party Advisory council, IPAC, Ambassador Desmond Akawor called it “Sea of human beings and Gokana Earthquake “.
Ambassador Akawor said he decided to attend the Gokana rally in order to visit his friends especially those in Ward 16.
He thanked GDI for what it is doing in educating the people of the state on PVC collection and the people of Gokana for their massive turnout for the event.
The PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara in his remarks warned the people not to give any information about their PVC to anyone.
The PDP Standard bearer informed that very soon some persons would approach them with all sorts of empowerment packages in order to get their PVC, but warned that under no circumstances should they compromise by giving them the PVC or information on the PVC.
“These are people who have not remembered you for these many years. Don’t give your PVC information to them. Safeguard your PVC.The person that will give you money for your PVC commits the same offence as the person that will give you money for your vote. Please don’t fall for them for any reason “, he advised.
He thanked them for their support for GDI,assuring that the support would not go unrewarded.
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Emeka Woke on his part, advised media houses to be objective in their reportage and avoid sensationalism.
He said he came to confirm if GDI had no supporters in Gokana as was being speculated in the media but noted that the body still commands enormous support in the area, and thanked them for believing in the present administration which has brought development to them.
Highpoint of the event was gyration by the 17 wards in the local government area.
