Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has told the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is not against him.
He blamed people around Atiku as the enemies of the PDP who are creating tension in the party.
Fayose came out with his position Friday at the inauguration of the Community Secondary School Obuama Harry’s Town in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, saying that most people think that they must destroy leaders before they can rise, which is hardly possible.
He noted that the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar does not hate governor Wike, but a lot of people around him were the enemies creating the tension.
He declared; “For me, I want to believe that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is not against you. But let me say this quickly, a lot of people surrounding the throne are enemies of the throne.
“A lot of people surrounding the throne have one axe to grind with somebody or some issues with somebody, and they take it to where they’re not supposed to take it.”
The former governor reiterated the need for Alhaji Atiku to work to unify the party so that everybody could focus on how to win the 2023 presidential election.
Fayose noted that it was impossible to wish governor Wike away saying that anybody doing so is the real enemy of the party.
He said; “There is no living person in the party and outside this party that will not acknowledge your contribution to this party. You are the soul of this party.”
“Forget whatever anybody says about you, I’ve said it before, Wike, the man with a fierce look but a good heart. The heart of love is to accomplish and give support.
“The majority of our enemies today are not against you because of anything but against you, because you have the capacity, they’re against you because they know that when you take over they’ll fall apart.
He further urged those close to the presidential candidate to desist from creating disaffection and allow him to unify the party as the 2023 general elections draw near.
He explained; “Wike has not come out to say that Atiku Abubakar is not the presidential candidate. He is. I was there the second day after the election when our candidate, the former vice president visited the residence of Governor Wike.
“We had a mutual conversation. We were all happy. Everything was in place to move forward. I spoke at that meeting. But don’t want to aggravate this situation. I’m only appealing to people that matter.
“In every political party, there will be grouping. The same family, but different interests. We can do better than we are doing. People around the corridor of power, please allow this candidate to win the election. We don’t celebrate victory until it is ours.”
He commended Wike for his infrastructural transformation of Rivers State saying; “Rivers State has been here for long but today we can see the difference. The average Rivers man is proud to be from Rivers. They’re proud to say you’re their governor”.
In his remarks, Wike explained the rationale behind the implementation of an inclusive development agenda for the state saying that most people hardly see beyond the delivery of road projects executed by his administration because the roads were more visible and will lure investors to the State.
“While we are trying to do more of the roads is because it attracts development. If there are no roads, people will not go and build houses. If there are no roads, people will not invest.
“But when you have a good network of roads, such will encourage people who want to invest in the State to do so”, he stated.
The governor stressed that his administration has also given sufficient development attention to improving structure, teaching and learning facility in the education sector.
He went on; “All through this week, we have been busy trying to, and letting the people understand what we are doing in the education sector.
“Before, people were saying is it only roads we are doing. Since Monday, we have been talking about tertiary education. Now, we are talking about basic education.
“By the time we finish, we will also go to the health sector and let the state see what we have done in that sector.
“So, for me, it is touching all-round the sectors because no one sector can be said to be more important than the other.”
Wike informed that it was his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who called his attention to the poor state of the community school in Obuama, and he immediately directed a total upgrade of the structure and learning facility.
“To God be glory, we have been able to put in our best to make it be a proper secondary school that our children will not only have access to education but also have quality education.
“I’m sure by the time you take your time after this event, to go round the premises and see some of the structures, you’ll be quite convinced of the quality that we have been able to put in place.
“And so, we are happy that we are here. This terrain is waterlogged, actually, it will be difficult if you don’t do concrete pavement like this. If you want to asphalt it, I don’t think it will last long. But with this concrete they’ve done, I’m sure it’s going to last long.”
Speaking further, Governor Wike directed the Ministry of Special Projects to within the next two weeks, provide him with an architectural design for the building of two hostels, one for boys and the other for female students at the school.
“Since it is a mixed school, do design, one for boys and one for the girls. Then, there will be a dining hall for them. Since you have provided accommodation for the teachers, then there should be hostels for the students,” he said.
