PDP’ll Win All Rescheduled Elections In Rivers, Says Wike

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that if elections were conducted 10 times in the state, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would still emerge victorious.He said

his confidence was because of the commitment of the party to the wellbeing of the people.The governor stressed that Rivers people are waiting for the deployment of card readers, adding that the major opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC, would not win any unit because the party had
since betrayed the people.Addressing a cross section of Rivers people at the state’s New Year Banquet in Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday night, Wike said: “If elections are conducted 10 times in Rivers State, PDP will win. We are waiting for the card reader, but let me see which unit they (APC) will win.”He charged the people of Rivers to always respect the judiciary irrespective of   judgements, noting that the stability of the country depended on the judiciary.According to him, his administration has respected the full separation of powers, which has led to the independence of the Judiciary and the Legislative arms of government.Wike expressed happiness that he lived up to his promise to revive the Judiciary after immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi, closed the courts for two years, pointing out that Amaechi was the first person to take advantage of the revived Judiciary by rushing to court over the Judicial Commission of Enquiry.The governor added that never again would the State House of Assembly be subjected to sitting in Government House under the guidance of the governor as was the case before he took over.His words: “You don’t need to control any arm of government. What you need is mutual cooperation to develop the state.”Wike outlined the achievements of his administration in terms of road infrastructure, school development, empowerment programmes, health and agricultural schemes, saying that 2016 would witness more development projects in all sectors in line with the new Rivers’ vision.He said his administration was able to make landmark achievements in seven months because of the support and prayers of a vast majority of Rivers people and declared that he would never be distracted, noting that his commitment to serve the state was total irrespective of any outcome.The Rivers governor disclosed that his administration took bank loans to finance projects not for politicking as rumoured and falsely reported in the media.“If I take a loan, I would use it to the benefit of the Rivers people. I will not use it to play politics,” he said.Wike said his administration was interested in completing abandoned infrastructural projects, provided they impact positively on lives of the people.He explained that though his administration had paid N1.5 billion for the foreign scholarships, it could not continue to fund it because the previous government had incurred a debt of N3.5 billion for 2013 – 2014 and the 2014 -2015 sessions.He stated that the decision was taken in the overall interest of the state in view of dwindling finances.Earlier, State Head of Service, Mr. Rufus Godwins, stated that the people of the state are solidly in support of Wike because of his commitment to development of the state and his superlative achievements.Former minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo, said Wike had lived up to the expectations of the people through his people-focused programmes and projects.