As politicians intensify their bid to seize power through the ballot box, a prominent leader from the Middle Belt has urged Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State to enter the presidential race.
Speaking at the commissioning of Community Secondary School, Omuanwa, in the Ikwerre Local Government Area, Professor Jerry Gana, a former federal Minister noted that the people of the Middle Belt are pleased with the strides and leadership style of Governor Wike.
He observed that the Governor has demonstrated tenacity, determination, commitment and capacity in his approach to governance issues.
The one-time Chairman of the Directorate for Social Mobilization, MAMSER, asked Wike to ignore the tantrums of some Nigerians and move on.
He said the people of the Middle Belt were indeed proud to be associated with the Rivers people and their Governor, stressing that they were delighted by the good work that he is doing to transform Rivers State.
Professor Gana said with the completion of the school, Wike has given the community and children of school age the greatest gift.
Gana remarked that as a professor, he was glad that the responsibility to commission an educational facility that would mold the minds of young people in the Omuanwa community had fallen on his shoulder.
“We stand with you” Professor Gana told Wike, saying as he ended his speech, “Governor please run. When you finally make up your mind and you want run…the good people of the Middle Belt would be very solidly behind you”
Professor Jerry Gana was in the saddle as Chairman of MAMSER when a proper alliance between the South and the Middle Belt which produced Abiola was forged.
Of late, groups in the South and the Middle Belt such as PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum to name a few have been strengthening socio-political and socio-cultural ties.
With all the sides agreeing to a cooperation pact that would see them aligning in defence of shared interests in 2023 and beyond, a Correspondent of the Port Harcourt Telegraph reports that the stage is now set, especially for the quest by the South to produce the next president.
Somehow, Wike is becoming increasingly visible and the increasing calls urging him to get on board can only mean one thing – he is making more friends; friends who think there is something that he can offer to the nation
It would however appear from the point of view of the Middle Belt that any alignment at all that does not include the cattle grazers or their sponsors would be in their best interest.