Wike: I met Amaechi because I want Rivers to move forward

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, on Wednesday said he agreed to a peace accord with Rotimi Amaechi, his predecessor, in the interest of the state.

Addressing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a rally in the Degema area of the state, the governor said he willingly participated in the meeting because of his commitment to peace and the need to make sacrifices for the development of the state.

He promised to implement the resolutions of the deal brokered by the police and the state security services (SSS) for the peaceful conduct of rerun election in the state.

“I was at the peace meeting because we love peace and want the state to move forward,” Simeon Nwakaudu, his spokesman, quoted him as saying.

“I signed an undertaking on your behalf that we are prepared for INEC credible, free and fair elections. It is not in our position to have crisis because we are the ones losing.”

He said the people must be allowed to elect representatives of their choice at the national and state assemblies.

Wike said his administration would partner with security agencies to ensure peaceful elections hold in the state.

Expressing sadness that some politicians were celebrating the postponement of election in the state, he said those who want the state to burn would be disappointed.

Wike said the insistence that Rivers should have representatives at the national assembly was because the people of the state had been shut out on the deliberation of the petroleum industry bill (PIB) and other legislations.

He called on PDP members to remain vigilant while expecting the rerun election.

“Nigerians know, the world knows that Rivers state is PDP. So shall it be forever,” he said.

He pledged to ensure development gets to all local government areas of the state, saying with the successes achieved in just one year, the remaining three years would witness more development.

Also speaking, Ipalibo Banigo, the deputy governor, said the massive turnout of the people was an indication that the people would always vote PDP candidates.

Osinakachukwu Ideozu, the PDP candidate in Rivers west senatorial district, said the reason given by INEC for the postponement of the rerun poll was not tenable, as the state is peaceful.

Uche Secondus, former acting national chairman of PDP, decried the frequency of inconclusive elections under the current administration.