Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has lashed out at Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, asking him to devote his attention towards delivering his state for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in all elections in 2023.
Wike also told Makarfi, who was the former National Chairman of the PDP to worry more about how he will ensure other parties in Kaduna do not outperform the PDP in the 2023 general election, rather than join issues with him and malign his character.
Governor Wike, who has become the most courted Nigerian politician recently, gave the advice on Tuesday at the inauguration of the sand-filled area and estate layout in Ogbum-Nu-Abali, Port Harcourt.
“This morning, I was watching Channels, I saw former national acting chairman of the party, PDP, Makarfi, and he said he is very close to me. I don’t know how close he is to me.
“Somebody who is close to me, I don’t know when last we spoke. I have never spoken to him for the past five months. So, if you’re close to somebody politically, there is no way in five months you won’t have spoken to the person is it not?
“He said, Wike, you’re sabotaging other people. I don’t know who says the other people have not. What I want to advise Makarfi is, look, you have a job, make sure PDP wins in Kaduna State. That is your job, leave Wike alone.
“Take it upon yourself that Kaduna falls to PDP. I don’t want to hear excuses that they rigged election or they didn’t rig election. That is what I’ve told everybody. In Kano, make sure PDP wins. In Niger, make PDP wins, in Jigawa, make sure PDP wins. If you win, then see whether PDP wins here or not. It’s operation deliver your State. Don’t use anybody’s state to add up.”
Governor also asked PDP politicians in the state to show capacity by delivering votes for the party at their various polling units, wards, local government and the State.
“It’s not to go to Abuja and begin to gossip, say all kinds of things, come home and mobilise, let us see the capacity you have. It’s operation deliver your poling units, operation deliver your ward, operation deliver your local government. That is what politics is all about.”
Speaking about the project, governor Wike said his administration has created a new city within the State capital out of a swampy mangrove that once was a hideout for criminals and kidnappers.
“We have created a new city where people will live, provided them with water, electricity, sewage, everything. This place can take at least, not less than 160 families if allocated.”
Performing the inauguration of the project, Governor Ífeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, described Governor Wike as an intense leader who leads from the front, famed for his legendary knack for project execution, and unrelenting crusade for the fundamental liberties as well as the economic interest of the people of Rivers State.
“Wike’s administration has done well and is worthy of our commendation. I therefore avail myself this opportunity to salute a standard-bearer in project delivery; a passionate promoter of the tenets of our Constitutional Democracy and Federalism; an unrepentant advocate of the Rule of Law, equity and fair play; a formidable politician; a man imbued with the requisite gravitas for statecraft; and most importantly, my brother and friend.”
