Wike Offers Logistics Support To Obi’s Campaign
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he knows the root of the problem in the country.
He stated this in Rivers State on Thursday, as he was invited by the state governor, Nyesom Wike, to inaugurate the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover, the ninth flyover of Wike’s administration.
Obi said the problem of Nigeria was that the country was not productive.
He said he had surveyed the country and he knew what would benefit every region, assuring of his commitment for a better Nigeria.
He said, “I know the problem of the country. Nigeria is not a productive state.
“I have said it again and again that I know what to do to benefit every part of the country. I told them in the North when we held our campaign that we will develop their vast lands. They have the lands so we will develop it.
“The South-West will be our financial hub and the East will be our manufacturing base. We will revive the sea port in Rivers so that we can be exporting from there.”
The presidential candidate who was welcomed by a large crowd in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, urged the people of Rivers to take him as one of them, pledging support for the people of the state.
Obi was accompanied to the inauguration by his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Wike in his remark pledged to support Obi with logistics for his campaign in Rivers State.
Wike, who invited the LP candidate to inaugurate the Nkpolu-Oroworokwo Flyover in Port-Harcourt, added that Obi had all the characteristics to lead Nigeria.
Wike said, “Each time you want to campaign in the state, let me know, all the logistics support, we will give to you.
“I know you as a person, you have all the criteria, you have all the characteristics to lead this country, you have it. Nobody can deny that.”
For months crisis has rocked the Peoples Democratic Party as Wike, a PDP member, and four other PDP governors known as the G5 have demanded the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, saying northerners should not be both the PDP national chairman and presidential candidate.
Speaking also to Obi at the inauguration Wike said, “If you had not left (the PDP), you would not have realised your ambition to be able to save Nigeria.”
Wike had also invited President Muhammadu Buhari and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, to inaugurate projects in the state, both from the ruling party, APC.
Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed were in the state capital to commission the 9th flyover by the present administration. They were excitedly received by a large crowd of their supporters known as ‘Obidients’.
For months, Wike and four other governors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have demanded the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as PDP national chairman as a precondition to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
While Wike and his allies have not been seen to campaign for Atiku, it is not clear whether they will support Obi, or Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the contest for Aso Rock’s top job which has been described by analysts and keen observers as a three-horse race.
Wike said though he knew the humiliation Obi suffered before he left the PDP for the Labour Party, he won’t leave the party but chase out the “armed robbers”.
“I know the humiliation you suffered. Nobody will hear what you pass through and stay in the party but I will not leave. I will stay and fight.
“I won’t leave this house. I will never allow armed robbers to take over this house. I will stay and chase away armed robbers.
“So, thank the Lord because if you have not left, you would not have realised your ambition to be able to save Nigeria,” Wike told Obi.
Obi left the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in October 2014 and joined the PDP. He was the running mate to PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 general elections.
He, however, dumped the PDP early 2022 and joined the LP where he clinched the party’s 2023 presidential ticket.
Describing Obi, the governor said, “He’s a former governor and presidential candidate, and a very humble man. As a state government, we will also give him logistics support for his campaigns.”
