Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has noted that peace and security would remain elusive across Nigeria, if the majority tribes and those who think they have dominance over others continue to marginalise them.
\nWike asserted that for there to be an enduring future for Nigeria, all Nigerians must see themselves as equal stakeholders in the project called Nigeria.
\nHe spoke at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday, when the management of New Telegraph Newspaper, led by the Managing Director and Editor- in-Chief, Mr. Ayodele Aminu, presented its letter nominating him as the Political Icon of the Year, 2022.
\nWike said, \u201cThe problem in this country today is not only as a result of the banditry or kidnapping, no. Part of the issues that have to do with security is the issue of marginalisation.
\n\u201cAnd I continue to tell our people or those who believe that they are dominant, you need peace for you to preside over those who you think do not have the number. You need peace. If there is no peace, it will be difficult.\u201d
\nWike took a retrospective look at how things stand in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and said it was evidence of marginalisation of a section of the country.
\nHe observed that because the zoning principle had been jettisoned in the PDP, coupled with the lack of seriousness to allow for inclusivity, convincing Nigerians to believe that the party can rescue the country was becoming a more difficult task.
\nThe governor insisted that blackmail cannot diminish the demand for the national chairmanship position to be relinquished to the South.
\nAccording to him, the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, had promised to resign his position should the presidential candidate of the party emerge from the North.
\n\u201cHe made that commitment because he knew that it will not be equitable, there will be no fairness and justice, if the presidential candidate comes from the same zone with him. And people are trivialising the issue. Why do you trivialise the issue?\u201d
\nSpeaking further, the Rivers State governor reaffirmed that his allies were resolved to continue the demand for the return of the national chairmanship position to the South.
\nWike maintained that Ayu was corrupt, because he had not been able to account for the N11billion realised from the party\u2019s primaries, and N100million he got from a governor.
\n\u201cIf you like, abuse us the way you want to abuse us, but we will stand by what we have said. If you say you will not relinquish that position to the South, no problems. Go ahead, but you can\u2019t force us to do what we think is not right; we will not do it. So, this kind of man cannot, in all honesty, take this party to any victory. He cannot!\u201d
\nWike berated the former presidential aspirant of the PDP, Mr Dele Momodu, for trivialising the issues affecting the party and seeking cheap recognition.
\n\u201cAll these professional praise singers and beggars who have nothing to offer, just to rally round the presidential candidate, looking for what they will eat, are beginning to abuse people. Those who even contested the primary without one vote are those who are talking: A presidential aspirant becoming a spokesperson to a presidential candidate!\u201d
\nWike alleged that Momodu was also an unstable character whose words cannot be taken seriously.
\nThe governor also blamed the media as being part of the problem of Nigeria because they had lost the courage to speak truth to power and hold leaders accountable.
\nHe wondered why the media was bold to speak against former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and have now lost sincerity of purpose to hold people in position and those jostling for public offices, accountable of what they say and do.
\nIn his speech, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr.AyodeleAminu, said they had in 2017 awarded Wike the award as the Governor of the Year in Infrastructure because of his contributions in Rivers and leadership in the PDP.
\nAccording to him, they have continued to follow his track records of performance, and healthy politicking that has given true meaning to democratic governance in the country.
\nAminu said they were delighted to have him as the winner of the award as the Political Icon of the Year 2022 because it fits no one else but him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has noted that peace and security would remain elusive across Nigeria, if the majority tribes and those who think they have dominance over others continue to marginalise them. Wike asserted that for there to be an enduring future for Nigeria, all Nigerians must see themselves as equal stakeholders in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":307418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[76],"tags":[688],"yoast_head":"\n