Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday said the PDP’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his cronies disrespected the State and its electoral importance.

He said they did not deserve Rivers electorate to vote for them or their candidates in the 2023 general election.

Wike made this assertion during the inauguration of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), campaign council in Port Harcourt on Monday.

“The presidential candidate (Atiku) entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself on them?”

The governor added: “I have never seen how people will disrespect a State like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the State, without the contribution from us. So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the State, the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.”

Wike decried how Rivers State had been treated in the past despite the bulk votes delivered to the PDP since 1999.

According to him, people cannot continue to demand for Rivers votes and yet be unwilling to accommodate its interests.

“Politics is a game of interest. If nobody accommodates the interest of Rivers State, then we have nothing to do with such people. If you say that you have no interest in Rivers State, Rivers State will not have your own interest. It is only those who like us that we will like.

“I have told people who care, Rivers State has voted PDP since 1999. Of this support we have given since 1999 till now, can you mention one thing that we have gotten in this State? Can you mention one road that we have gotten? All they care is to ask for Rivers State votes, after the votes, you push us aside. That will not happen again,” he vowed.

To the Rivers PDP campaign council, Governor Wike told the members to have a different mindset because the strategies to be adopted for the 2023 election would not be like what they had known.

He stated that PDP in Rivers State had done well for the people, with such feat attested to by President Muhammadu Buhari, which made it more difficult for any party to have a chance of winning the election in the State.

Wike boasted that Rivers State is the envy of other States because of his remarkable achievements in office, which will be beneficial to all PDP candidates in the State during campaign.

The governor said that he has directed the release of N50 billion to contractors handling projects in the State to enable then speed up work.

He assured that more projects such as the Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnosis Treatment Centre, the 8th and 9th flyover bridges, Phase one of the Trans-Kalabari road, Saapkenwa – Bori-Kono road, among others would be inaugurated soon.

In his response, the alternate chairman of the Rivers PDP campaign council, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba said they have accepted the assignment given to them and are determined to do their best to deliver the consolidation team of the New Rivers Vision.

He noted that the transformation that Rivers State had experienced under Wike since 2015 had further endeared the PDP to the people, which he said had given them a head start above other political parties.2023: Atiku disrespected us, we won't campaign for him in Rivers - Wike