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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Since 1999, Rivers State has remained a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) state. There was no election conducted, be it presidential, National Assembly, House of Assembly or local government that PDP did not record landslides victories.
Very remarkably was in 2015, when the sitting governor, Chibuike Amaechi, who cross-carpeted from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), was defeated by the current governor, Nyesom Wike, of the PDP.
In fact, under Governor Wike, PDP has made Rivers look like a one-party-state. It grounded all opposition political parties, to the extent that even APC, which is the major opposition party in the state, did not find it feet during the 2019 election.
Even in 2019, when the Federal Government unleashed its might on the state, and wanted to unseat the incumbent governor by all means, still the PDP was not defeated.
No wonder, Wike could confidently say that Rivers State is PDP, and PDP is Rivers. Even, the alleged face-off between the governor and some of his close political allies, was seen as inconsequential to the PDP winning in the 2023 general election in the state.
To many Rivers residents, the ruling party would still win the governorship election, though Wike is in the last lap of his administration. They believe the governor is a strong force politically that nobody can wish away.
However, the road to 2023 may be stormy in Rivers State. There are other political parties with credible governorship candidates that would battle PDP for the Brick House seat of power.
Some of the notable candidates are Senator Magnus Abe of Social Democratic Party (SDP); Tony Cole, APC; Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Accord; and Beatrice Itubo, Labour Party (LP).
Last month, the ruling party adopted an “aggressive” Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) sensitization campaign across the 23 local government areas of the state. This was done through its pro-PDP group, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI).
The enlightenment campaign “showcased” the party’s governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara and the deputy governorship candidate, Prof (Mrs) Ngozi Ordu.
However, with the PDP quagmire at the national level, and Governor Wike as a prominent figure in the fight, Rivers seems to be undaunted. One thing political analysts believe strongly is that the state would not like to lose its identity as a PDP state.
Governor Wike has consistently demanded for equity and social justice in the PDP, as it affects the Southern part of the country.
He maintained that it was against the party constitution for key party positions, for example, presidential candidate, national chairman, and Board of Trustees chairman to come from one part of the country (North) as currently constituted.
This development has threatened the unity of the party, thereby portending danger. Some of the aggrieved PDP stalwarts in Rivers State, who felt they were denied the opportunity to freely contest in the governorship primary and fell out with the governor, decided to pitch their tent with the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
In the last two months, political emissaries, both from PDP at the national level and other political parties turned Rivers to a political Mecca, by visiting Wike.
While the PDP National Assembly, governorship candidates and other chieftains visited him as part of the peace process, it could not be ascertained the agenda other visitors from other parties had.
Some weeks back, the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Tambari Sydney Gbara, told Sunday Sun that whatever position Governor Wike takes concerning the peace process going on in the party, would also be their position.
Gbara stated that since Governor Wike is the leader of the PDP in Rivers State, whatever decision he takes concerning the ongoing political crisis in the PDP would also be their view.
Similarly, Chris Finebone, a chieftain of the party, said that the issue of which party would win the 2023 election in Rivers State was a foregone conclusion.
He said: “All politics is local. The issue of which party will win the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State is a forgone conclusion. PDP and Sir Sim Fubara will win by 12 noon on election day in March, 2023. The blind has already seen this; the deaf has already heard this divine outcome.”
Finebone, who was the immediate past Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, dismissed any crisis in Rivers PDP even as he defended what the Rivers governor was agitating for.
He said: “Let me assure you that Governor Wike is seeking justice in PDP and nothing more. Here is a man who has remained loyal and steadfast with the PDP from 1998 to date.
“Alongside others, he sustained the PDP when the sea was most turbulent. If such a man demands justice in the PDP, it behoves on the leadership to listen to him.”
Finebone declared that PDP members and supporters would remain loyal to the leadership of the party in the state, and would follow the direction of the party leader and governor, Wike.
He stated: “We are not bothered by what is happening at the national level of the PDP. It will have nothing to do with us in Rivers State. All we care is to go the direction our leader and as the governor directs. We will go as a unit.
“However, we believe that reason will soon prevail and things will be sorted out at the apex level. But, assuming without conceding, that the worst happens, Governor Wike will direct us aright, no doubt. It will be loud. What is not doubtable is that Rivers State is PDP through and through.”
Another PDP stalwart, Princewill Dike spoke in the same vein.
He emphasized that the party members’ loyalty and readiness to follow the direction of the governor anytime was not in doubt.
Dike, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, said that Wike’s legacy projects across the state, would speak volume of the governor’s achievements and the need to vote for his successor.
He described Wike as a “political wizard”, saying that he has performed creditably well in Rivers State.
“And aside of that performance, Rivers State is PDP, and PDP is Rivers State.
“Adding again to that, the candidate of PDP is a very saleable candidate. Sim Fubara is a saleable candidate. There is no gainsaying the fact that Sim will win seamlessly.
“Rivers people are happy with Governor Wike because of his infrastructural renaissance that has cut across every nook and cranny of Rivers State.
“There is no gainsaying about the fact that Rivers PDP members and supporters will always follow Governor Wike wherever he goes. The confidence is that Wike is a political force that cannot be undermined. He has overwhelming support.
“If PDP and Wike do not reconcile, it would affect the political fortunes of Atiku Abubakar in 2023 presidential election. And, any presidential candidate Wike supports will coast home to victory. Absolutely.
“If Nigerians want Atiku to win, he (Atiku) should stop what we are using to criticize Bola Tinubu, northernization of our politics.”
