Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the decision on which presidential candidate to mobilize votes for in the forthcoming 2023 general election has been taken and will be revealed in January 2023.
Governor Wike spoke at the inauguration of the Rumuokwurusi- Elimgbu Flyover (10th flyover) in Rumuokwurusi Town, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area on Thursday.
The governor assured that, from January 2023, he will first embark on a state-wide campaign tour to tell Rivers people who they should vote for.
Wike stated that he will undertake a nationwide campaign tour to tell Nigerians the most preferred presidential candidate requiring their votes.
“So, from January next year, I will campaign to my people who they will vote for. So, all of you who have been in suspense. Who have been saying all kinds of things, abusing me, wait, January has come. Not only will I tell them where they will vote, I will move from state to state and tell them why they should vote for the people I think they should vote for. Nothing will happen.”
“Those of you who have never been stable. You move from PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) to there, and you moved from there back to PDP. Those of you who campaigned in 2015, telling Nigerians if they vote for PDP they are voting for insurgency. If they vote for PDP, they’re voting for corruption.
“Wait, all of us will reply. We will tell Nigerians this thing that you said, how far now. Where do you still stand now? Is it the same PDP or a new PDP?”
“So, all of you appearing on television abusing me, don’t waste your saliva again. January has come. All those of you who are telling Nigerians that you used to have 40 shoes, you used to have 50 wristwatches, time has come to convert those shoes and wristwatches to votes. It’s not to be on the podium and raise your shoes high. And raise your wristwatch high. Time has come to convert it to votes.”
Governor Wike also advised some Rivers politicians who now reside in Abuja to know that the 2023 election will confirm who truly has a political influence on Rivers’s electorate.
He said the 2023 general election will also be used to retire these politicians, and urged them to return home and do their campaigns.
“Let me also use the opportunity to advise those of them who said that they are our brothers in Abuja. This 2023 election will confirm to us in Rivers State who are those that have influence on voters.
“Who are those that their people will listen to and vote for? It is not only for you to be in Abuja and tell them whatever you’re telling them. Come home because our polling booths are not going to be in Abuja.”
He further added, “This election will retire people in 2023. If they win us, we go. If we win them, they go. In fact, they have already gone.”
Governor Wike also said his administration has established a new political concept that will deepen understanding on how to endear the electorate and secure their votes.
He explained that the PDP in Rivers State will not engage in vote buying, but will depend on the numerous projects executed in all the twenty three Local Government Areas, consistent payment of pension and gratuity by his administration to win the 2023 general election.
