…We Kept Our Promises To You, More Coming – Wike
..As DG Assures Coming Of ‘Greater Go-Round’
..As Sim Reiterates Commitment To Consolidation
…Oba (Eze Ogba) Of Ogbaland Gives Royal Blessing
…As Campaign Train Arrives Bori, Saturday, January 21
With the 2023 gubernatorial election only one month and twenty one days to go, electioneering seems to hit the crescendo as political parties in Rivers State make frantic efforts to woo the electorates for their votes.
Like every other party in the contest, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign train has oiled their arsenals for a statewide rally which began with Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) on Monday, January 16, 2023.
That explained the splendor and magnificence witnessed at the Felix Obuah Pavillion, Omoku, headquarters of ONELGA where thousands of elated supporters trooped out to welcome the PDP campaign train marshaled by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Thanks to the organizational prowess of the Director-General of the Rivers PDP Campaign Council and immediate past State Chairman of the party, Bro. Felix Obuah, the Omoku campaign rally may well go down as the most successful in the annals of the PDP in the state.
The crowd was unprecedented and organization was amazing as everyone of the thousands that attended the event went home with a smile!
Among the retinue of party chieftains in the governor’s entourage was the State Deputy Governor and Rivers West Senatorial Candidate, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo; PDP governorship candidate, Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu; Director General of the PDP Campaign Council, Bro. Felix Amechi Obuah and members of the campaign council; Chairman of PDP Elders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba; State Chairman of PDP, Amb. Desmond Akawor; Commissioners as well as other top government officials.
Before making their way to the jam-packed pavilion located at the ONELGA Council Secretariat, Governor Wike and his entourage had paid a courtesy visit to the palace of His Eminence, Barr. Dr. Nwachuku Nnam Obuoha Obi lll, Oba (Eze Ogba) of Ogbaland, who gave his royal blessings to the August visitors.
It was a master stroke for the PDP as according to Governor Wike while addressing the crowd, the blessings from the Ogba monarch was a good way to begin the campaigns, promising that the party would return to the pavilion to thank ONELGANS after their victory at the polls.
As the crowd chanted: ‘Follow who know road, Na Sim Fubara’, Governor Wike again charged them on who to give their vote on Election Day.
His words, “PDP is ONELGA and ONELGA is PDP. But that is regarding the Governorship, State and National Assembly elections.
“We have come here today to campaign and give back the support you gave us in 2015. You also gave us the support in 2019. We are back in 2023 to consolidate on what we have done. It has become necessary for you to support our team led by Governorship Candidate, Siminialayi Fubara and your daughter, Prof. Ngozi Odu, so they can consolidate and continue from where we stopped.
“To the glory of God, we have fulfilled all the promises we made to you”.
Governor Wike, who was clad in native Isiagu with a red feathered cap to match, announced that he would return by the end of February to commission the Engene-Omoku Road as well as the Omoku-Egbema dualized Road, adding that contract has also been awarded to Julius Berger for construction of the Ahoada-Omoku Road.
Lashing at the opposition, Governor Wike charged ONELGANS not to be received by their rhetoric.
“What will they come to tell you? ONELGA, Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Abua/Odual were ravaged by flood last year. Did they come to sympathize with you?”, he asked amid a thunderous ‘No’.
The governor went on: “That is how you know those who love you. They are the enemies of Rivers State and you will not give them your votes. You must listen to your leaders, through the DG of the Campaign Council.
“It’s a fight to finish, do not be afraid because we are going to win at the end of the day. God is with us and as you know, we have never failed here”.
In his speech at the occasion, the Director General of the PDP Campaign Council, Bro. Felix Obuah commended Governor Wike for the numerous projects commissioned and ongoing in the area, assuring that ONELGA people will vote PDP governorship candidate because of the good things Governor Nyesom Wike has done in the LGA.
“All the people you see here are not rented crowd and they all have their PVC. They came out because of the good things Governor Wike has done in Rivers State, particularly ONELGA.. We solidly believe in the leadership of His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, we will go anywhere he directs us to go in this election,” he added.
It was a convergence of multitude of heads at Felix Obuah Pavilion, Council Secretariat, Omoku as the Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State Chapter held its governorship campaign rally for the 2023 general elections, on Monday, 16 January 2023.
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area campaign rally is the first the PDP in Rivers State is holding since it flagged off its state-level campaign in November 2022. The party plans to tour the 23 local government areas of the state before the electioneering window closes.
The gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in his speech, told the enthusiastic crowd of his plans and programmes for Rivers people when elected come March 11.
“When we visited the Oba of Ogbaland, he told us that we don’t necessarily need to campaign in ONELGA, and you are also telling us the same thing. This shows that you appreciate what Governor Wike has done in this LGA and you also know what we will do when you bring the consolidation team board.
“We have a reason for tagging this team Consolidation, it is a special word that will bring further developments to ONELGA and the entire Rivers State.
“The administration of His Excellency Nyesom Wike has constructed several roads in this LGA and some are still ongoing. You cannot talk about development when there is no accessibility.
“What we stand for is good governance, good governance is securing lives and properties, providing good services, making life easier, and that is what my principal the governor has done for you, and that is where I stand,” the Guber candidate said.
The Rivers PDP standard bearer further hinted on some of his plans for the LGA when elected governor of Rivers State.
“Omoku will be a gas hub under my administration, we will attract more oil and gas investors to invest here, more businesses will come, unemployment menace will be over.
“There is one important thing we must know; without peace there cannot be any meaningful development. As you can see, Governor Wike has brought peace to this LGA. I will be succeeding a man who has ensured that ONELGA is peaceful, I will continue to maintain peace in this LGA,” he added.
Sir Siminalayi Fubara seized the occasion to tell PDP faithful not to relent despite the overwhelming sign of victory, he urged them to go back home and sensitise more people on the need to vote PDP in the governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections.
Presenting flags to the two State House of Assembly candidates in ONELGA, the state Chairman of PDP, Amb. Desmond Akawor said campaigning in ONELGA is like preaching to the already converted because it is a stronghold of PDP.
“We didn’t come here to campaign because campaigning in ONELGA is like preaching to the converted, ONELGA is a PDP stronghold. It is the LGA of the former chairman of our party in the state who is currently the DG of the campaign council. This is where the next deputy governor of the State comes from. We have never failed any election in this local government area, this time will not be an exception,” he said.
