Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has described defections by members of All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as final mop-up of remnants of the party including all other parties.
He spoke after members of the All Progressives Congress were accepted into the party at reception organized for them by Peoples Democratic Party at Isaac Boro Park on Thursday.
Governor Wike said: “Let me give thanks to Almighty God for what is happening here today, what they call the final mop-up of the remnants of the All Progressives Congress and all other parties.
“I’m not surprised with what is happening today or what has happened before. There comes a time in life that people will not be misguided, that people will no longer listen to stories. There comes a time in life that you cannot continue to deceive the people. The people of Rivers State have seen and have decided to put themselves before Almighty God first and then to the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party”.
He said those who returned to the party were deceived by the other party saying that he had no grudges against anyone in politics who had lied against his administration.
He said that the party means well for people of the state adding he would continue to defend interest of the state.
He said: “There’s no amount of intimidation that will make me to abandon and betray my people for whatever it is. I will continue to stand for the people of Rivers State. I will continue to defend the interest of Rivers State”.
He said there were projects in all local councils and promised to continue to bring dividends of democracy.
He said no project would be left unfinished by end of his tenure saying that the party would win governorship election in 2023 since it had fulfilled promises to the people.
Governor Wike said all returnees had same entitlement as old members and said there should be no division in the party at local councils.
The returnees were presented to him by Chairman of the party, Amb. Desmond Akawor, who had said the governor’s achievements had endeared them to the party.
He said that the governor’s achievements cut across every part of the state.
Some of the returnees include former Speaker of State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Stephen Ezekwem, Hon Emma Deeyah, Hon Levy Braide, Sir Ngo Martyns-Yellowe, Ogbonna Nwuke, Hon Daemi Akpanah, Hon Dandison Adonye Ogolo and Hon Alabo Charles Dokubo.
Others include Hon Esuku Esuku, Hon Ibiso Nwuche and Hon Emma Okata and others.
They were each presented with the party’s logo -the umbrella- which they had unfurled above their heads and each of them also had handshake with the governor.
They said that they came back to the party because they were impressed with achievements made by the governor.
One of the returnees, Hon Emma Deeyah, said what the governor was doing was visible adding what had endeared him to him was his courage in leadership.
