Eniola Olayemi

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has alleged that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have directed Managing Directors of banks to deny Rivers State cash during the weeks of 2019 Election.

Governor Wike said that he received the information on the illegal cash strangulation of the Rivers State by few Bank Managing Directors who attended the meeting with the CBN Governor and EFCC.

Addressing thousands of supporters during the PDP Campaign Rally at Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area on Tuesday, Governor Wike said this unconstitutional initiative by the APC Federal Government will fail woefully.

He said: “The CBN Governor and the EFCC Chairman invited the Managing Directors of Banks and told them to deny Rivers State cash during the elections. They told them to strangulate Rivers State.

“We have passed that stage. Nobody can gag us. Before now, we prepared for the elections. They should not bother, because we are ready”.

The governor said rather than cry over the insistence of the international community that the APC Federal Government should conduct credible polls, President Muhammadu Buhari should emulate Former President Goodluck Jonathan who organised free and fair elections and lost.

“In 2015, the APC went to the International Community and got their support. They supported them and the PDP lost.

‘Today, the APC Federal Government is crying because the international community is insisting on credible polls.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should conduct credible polls and earn international respect. Buhari should emulate Former President Goodluck Jonathan. He should not rig with security agencies because it will not work”, he said.

The governor declared that PDP is ready for the forthcoming general elections as the party is preferred by Rivers people and has a history of resounding electoral victories.

“PDP is ready for elections in 2019. We have won all previous elections in the state. In 2015, they claimed we won because of Jonathan. But we won all the rerun elections under Buhari administration, except the ones they snatched illegally.

“If not for their planned reliance on security agencies, nobody will collect APC nomination forms. There is no imprint of APC anywhere in Rivers State “, he said.

He charged the people of the area to vote for Atiku Abubakar and other PDP candidates.

The governor announced that he will start the electrification of the area. He stated that during his second term, his first project would be to connect Wakama to Ogu by road.

Governor Wike urged the people to remain faithful to the PDP because it is the only party that considers the welfare and development of the people.

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah thanked the Ogu/Bolo people wholeheartedly supporting Rivers State Governor and other PDP candidates. He presented the PDP Candidate for Rivers East Senatorial District , Senator George Sekibo, PDP Candidate for Okrika/Ogu/Bolo Federal Constituency, Bright Gogo and PDP Candidate for Ogu/Bolo State Constituency, Evans Bipi to the people and asked them to vote for them .

PDP Candidate for Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Sekibo said that the people of the area will always support Governor Wike.

He said that the people have no choice than to support Governor Wike for the several projects in the area, especially the reconstruction of Government Secondary School, Ogu. He said that the construction of the school removed shame from his eyes.

PDP Candidate for Ogu/Bolo State Constituency, Evans Bipi said the area is purely for the PDP. He said that nobody can steal the votes of Ogu/Bolo people.

He said that PDP has no rival in the area. He said that the people will continue to support Governor Wike.

Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Navy Captain Erasmus Victor (Rtd) , urged the people to vote for the PDP because that is the way to sustain development.

Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Ambassador Desmond Akawor said Ogo/Bolo people are now part of the movement of progress as they are fully in support of Governor Wike.

He said that the Ogu/Bolo land by their mass mobilisation have shown they are committed to stopping the wind of destruction represented by the APC.

Former Commissioner and Rivers State Abuja Liaison Officer, Hon Vincent Nemieboka said that the people will deliver the area to the PDP because of the achievements of Governor Wike

Chairman of PDP in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area , Engr Arnold Davids said that the Local Government Area is the heartbeat of PDP in the state . He assured that all PDP candidates will win their respective elections

According to him, all the APC members in the area defected to the PDP and declared their support for the re-election of Governor Wike.

Former Leader of Ogu/Bolo APC, Mr Tamuno Jonah said his defection is home coming and aimed to consolidate the re-election process for the Rivers State Governor.