From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Over 45  political support groups of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have drummed support for the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Siminalaye Fubara, for the March 18, 2023, governorship election.
The groups declared  this at a day youths summit for a peaceful election in the state, ahead of the rescheduled March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections, held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
State governor, Nyesom Wike, who addressed the support groups,  said all what the G-5 governors wanted was equity, fairness and justice between the Southern and the Northern parts of Nigeria.
Wike, who spoke through the chairman of PDP in the state, Desmond Akawor, said he decided to support the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola  Tinubu, when leaders of the party identified with the leadership of Rivers State.
He  said: “As you mentioned, core APC people who supported Asiwaju, who supported your party, at a point decided to identify with Rivers State, identify leaders of Rivers State under the leadership of Chief Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.”
The summit was organised by Rivers-for-Rivers Network in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter.
Chairman of the occasion and  a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Tony Okocha, in his remarks, charged youths in the state, especially those of Rivers origin to take their destiny in their hands.
Okocha urged them to rise up and uphold the visions of the founding fathers of the state and not to betray it, saying that their dream was for a peaceful, free and prosperous state.
He described the theme of the programme; “Linking the future of youths of Rivers State to the dreams of our founding fathers” as apt, succinct and auspicious, saying that “every generation has a vision, you either uphold it or you betray it.”
Okocha demanded to know from the youths what their vision was in the various spheres of human endeavour and whether it was in line with the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
He stated that the way the youths could take control of their destiny was not by being violent or lawless, but that it would require the mobilisation of youths to intellectually conscientize them to the realities of the moment and juxtapose those with the dreams of the founding fathers of the state.
“As youths, which constitute the most potent force in any society, we must stand up to our responsibilities.
“The hottest place in hell is prepared for that youth of Rivers State who in the glaring face of oppression, intimidation, colonisation in whatever form, invasion and flagrant attempt to undermine our humanity by centrifugal forces, internal or external, decide to be indifferent.”
Chairman, National Youth Council Of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter, Chijioke Ihunwo, charged the youths not to vote for greedy politicians in the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Roland White, who represented the Commissioner for Youth Development,  raised the awareness of the youths to their potential and power.
He  said they  (youths)  have the capacity to decide the future of the state capitalising on the coming governorship election.