The political fortunes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nationwide has been traced to the political machine of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State.
This was the opinion of one of the party’s stalwart in the state, Chief Sir Goodluck Nwobike in a chat with newsmen during the defection of some prominent politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the weekend in Port Harcourt.
According to him, “due to the rich harvest of the defection, it could be described as a political tsunami 2021”.
Chief Nwobike recalled that unlike the caliber of PDP politicians who are cross-carpeting to the APC they are without value and so have nothing to offer to their new party, those coming over to the PDP are major stakeholders that actually shook their former party and pull along their teeming supporters as they come.
The returnees from various Local Government Areas of the state included the foundation state chairman of the APC, Dr Davies Ikanya; the former National Assembly member and Acting State Chairman of the APC, Rt. Hon Igo Aguma; former APC stakeholder, Chief Nnamdi Ogbogbo; former minority leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Hon Wisdom Wakamaj former commissioner and state caretaker chairman APC, Hon Isobo Jack; and former APC stakeholder, Hon Alamese Martins Yellow.
Others were former APC stakeholders Hon Ilamabo Mirilla, Hon Alpine Whyte; former minority leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon (Barr) Benibo F. Anabraba; former governorship aspirant and major APC stakeholder; Dr. More Oja-Chinda; Pioneer Publicity Secretary of APC, Rivers State, former CTC chairman, Ahoada East and former State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Rivers State, High Chief Andy U. Nweye; former APC stakeholder, Hon Iaaye Franklin and former APC legal Adviser. Barr. Paul Nwankwoala.
Chief Nwobike stated that, no doubt with this caliber and number of politicians pulling out of the APC, the party is finished especially in Rivers State.
“These persons in their various speeches at the reception disclosed that they not only came with their supporters but promised that others are waiting in the wing to take their turn sooner than later because according them, few persons have been growing fat with the funds that comes into the party”.
The PDP stakeholder said that the major attraction to the PDP has been the superlative performance of governor Wike and his leadership style of carrying everyone and every sector along in the scheme of things.
He made it clear that from all indications, the governor will not only move to the centre but that the PDP will become so strong in the 2023 general election, that it would bounce back to take over the seat of power, adding that what the Wike administration needs is maximum support and encouragement to succeed.
