2023 Presidency: “We Are Waiting For Governor Wike’s Directive; We Vote For Whom He Directs” – Rivers Elders Council

By Adesina Soyooye

Members of the Rivers State Elders Council say they are waiting for Governor Nyesom Wike to tell them who to vote for in the Presidential election of 2023.

The Chairman of the Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba,  said this when Wike hosted them to a party at his private residence in Porthacourt to mark his ( Wike’s) 55th birthday.

In response to a speech by the Governor, Alabraba promised the Governor that they will deliver all the  Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2023, but said they were still  waiting on him to tell them who to vote for in the 2023 Presidential race.

Alabraba’s words: “Since after the Primaries and all the matters arising, a lot of people have been wondering, ‘where are we going to vote? What are we doing?’

“But I assure you, the belief we have in you and your leadership, whenever you decide to say where we are going, that is where all of us will go. We are not in a hurry.

“We will deliver Fubara (Sim) as our Governor, deliver all Reps, Senate and all State Assembly Candidates. But for the other one (Presidency), we are waiting for whenever you decide, that is where all of us will go.

“Your Excellency, we thank God that you have the capacity to carry along a number of your colleagues known as G-5.

“Those are the most popular Governors in this Country today. And, we are not pressuring you.

“Whatever the group comes up with, whichever decision you take, be rest assured that your followers hope will key into it and support you to the last.”

Wike has been at loggerheads with the National Leadership of the Party and the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, since after the Primaries where he lost to Atiku Abubakar and also lost the Vice Presidential slot to his Delta State counterpart, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

In words and actions, he and members of the G5 which he leads have been de-marketing the Party. They have been boycotting the Presidential Campaign Rally. And have made it, clear, almost, that they will not vote Atiku at the Presidential election in February, 2023.

The other Governor -members of the G-5 are Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and, Seyi Makinde, Oyo.