… More Nigerians want him in the race
Increasingly pressure is being piled on Governor Nyesom Wike by several individuals and groups.
These groups spread across the country are urging him to enter the presidential race.
The latest call is coming from a notable pressure group, Akpor Consultative Assembly, ACA.
Lending its voice to growing demands by Nigerians for the Rivers strongman to join the race, ACA in a resolution reached Saturday, urged the Governor to present himself for election.
Its leader, Hanny Woko who spoke with the press declared, “We as a group collectively, after consultation, are calling on the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike today, the 26th day of February, 2022 to present himself to run for the highest office of the land; to run for the position of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are compelling him to make himself available because Nigeria needs a man of his status at this perilous time of our history”, ACA said.
Members of the pressure group who hail from Obio/Akpor, Wike’s Local Government, stressed, the Governor’s antecedents show that the former Minister of Education is competent to govern the nation.
“We need sanity in Nigeria. We need a courageous, youthful leader to man that position.
“In Governor Wike we see every qualification. In him we see the embodiment of a true patriotic Nigerian.
“We therefore plead with him, urge him and also compel him, because it is a call to service.
“It will be a disservice to the country if he refuses to present himself for that position because we have looked all round, he is the most qualified for that position.”
A number of groups have stepped up their efforts to draft Governor Wike into the presidential race.
They include the PDP Renaissance Movement in Cross River State. The group has the who-is-who in Cross River politics as members.
There is the Wike4Nigeria team that is establishing branches in various states as part of an advocacy plan to persuade Wike to vie for the presidency.
The League of Patriotic Lawyers have since urged Wike to harken to the voices of Nigerians who want him to be president.
Similarly, thousands of youths in the South-West are pushing for a Wike presidency, saying he has shown sufficient commitment to rescue of the Nigerian nation.
In Benue and other parts of North Central, different pressure groups led by men and women are placing Wike billboards on roadsides.
Across the country, admirers of the Rivers Governor who are stepping up moves to persuade him say he is a man who has demonstrated sufficient courage and tenacity.
In a related development, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim said what the Akpor Consultative Assembly has done is to reecho the position of all lovers of good governance in Nigeria that Wike has the qualities to be the President of Nigeria.
Nsirim noted, “Look at his antecedents as Chairman of local Government, as Minister of Education and now as Governor.
“Today, Rivers State remains the centerpiece of development in Nigeria in terms of infrastructural, healthcare delivery, education, agriculture, housing, women empowerment, social welfare and justice system.”
“Governor Wike has set models for development in all these areas and that is why he is called Mr. Quality Projects.
“The numerous awards he has garnered over the years from the media, and nongovernmental organisations speak a lot of the capacity of Governor Wike.
“So, what we are just doing here is to reecho the voice of majority of Nigerians who have been clamouring for him to throw in his cap into the ring to contest for the President,” Nsirim remarked.
He expressed confidence that Governor Wike will not only win the general election, but will also replicate what he is doing in Rivers State at a large scale across the country.
“His achievements are legendary. The works speak for themselves. In any sector of the economy you see his signature boldly written for posterity.
“So that is what we want him to replicate in Nigeria, because, we believe Nigeria needs a visionary leadership at this point in time,” the Commissioner added.
A member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 2 in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Oke Chinda said in his reaction that the group endorsed Governor Wike for the position of President because he has the national character and the qualifications to rescue.
According to him, “We are solidly behind him. For us in Akpor, we are convinced. He has done so much for us.
“Before now, we hadn’t any roads, today, he has constructed durable roads all over Akpor kingdom. So, the political nucleus of the Akpor people is urging him to come and do same for Nigeria.”