Governor Nyesom Wike has again dispelled speculations that he is gearing up to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the 114th Quarterly General Meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt on Monday, Wike said he remains an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite being impressed by APC’s support for the power shift.
He told the Rivers monarchs, “I am not a member of APC and will not be.
“But they have made me recognize that they are the heroes of this country.
“APC governors came out to say that for the unity of this country, the presidency should go to the south.
“They said they wanted the unity of this country, and therefore, the presidency should go to the south.
“They could have as well said no; it doesn’t matter. As governors, we have the number.
“We can still say it should remain where it should remain. But they didn’t do that.
“They said the way we are seeing this country, we want everybody to be together.
“Let no one say because I have the population, therefore, you will continue to dominate. When you dominate, you need peace; without peace, you cannot govern.
“We are all Nigerians, and we want the unity of this country; we want Nigeria to move forward as a united country.”
“Rivers has always been in support of one Nigeria, and we’ll continue to support one Nigeria.
“But in doing that, we believe in equity, justice, and fairness. As governor of this state, I will vote for the unity of this country. I will vote for anything that will unite Nigeria.
“I will not support anything that will divide Nigeria.” And that is what necessitated the principle of “live and let live.” If only one person continues to live, things will not be good.
“It’s not about the party; it’s about Nigeria. I am a member of the PDP, an unrepentant member who, in fact, built this party when people ran away.
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty King, Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V. Amanyanabo of Opobo, thanked the governor for the respect he has accorded the council since his assumption of office.
The king informed the governor that members of the Council, in a representative meeting, have resolved to support any governorship candidate of his choice who will carry on with the developmental blueprint of the state as laid down by him.
Ahead of the general election, the king has urged political actors and their supporters “to note that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any resident of this state.
“We must remember that political parties are only vehicles through which people access political offices.
“They are not permanent. Politicians can change parties anytime depending on changing circumstances.
“We, therefore, appeal to our politicians to eschew violence and stop using our youth as cannon fodder.
“Let the peace we are enjoying under this administration be sustained.”
