A Cross River State -based pressure group, PDP Renaissance Movement, has called on the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, to declare for Nigeria’s presidency as the 2023 elections draw closer.
Addressing Journalists in Calabar at the Ernest Etim Bassey NUJ press centre, Tuesday, the group said the leadership qualities of the Rivers State governor qualified him to lead the country.
Spokesman for the group and immediate past commissioner for water resources, Ntufam Gabe Odu-Oji, appealed to the PDP leadership to ensure Wike gets the party’s presidential ticket, and described the Governor as a man of ‘character and content
He urged the party leadership to consolidate on the gains of consensus building process, recorded at the just concluded convention, to narrow down interests as the 2023 elections approach.
“After a careful prognosis of the political situation in the country, characterized by high level insecurity across board, rising banditry, the proliferation of secessionist groups currently threatening the very fabric of our national unity, we hereby call on His Excellency, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, to declare for the 2023 Presidential elections in order to salvage Nigeria.
“We note that Governor Wike is a nationalist who truly believes in the unity and indissolubility of Nigeria and has clearly demonstrated this in his uncompromising stance against seperatist agitations and his liberal posture as demonstrated during the sokoto fire inferno.
“The Cross River Renaissance Movement further notes the ingenuity in social engineering exhibited by Governor Wike in handling the security situation in the Niger-Delta, which has brought about lasting peace in the region. We consider this trait as a major panacea required in resolving the current security challenges plaguing the country.
“At a time where truth is lacking in our polity, at a time when the current failed APC government is intimidating every opposing voice in the country through the use of state machineries, HE Nyesom Wike has remained very bold and courageous in confronting issues of national concerns and has proven to be psychologically, spiritually and politically stable to lead the country.
“He has remained a man of justice who fights for the weak, the poor, the voiceless and protects the interest of the youth and women. Nigeria is in dire need of a leader with the needed competence to drive a clear prosperity agenda for the people that is hinged on fiscal federalism so as to return the country to its days of the lost glory.
“The Renaissance group is therefore extending its net of negotiation, and expresses the willingness to build bridges, leverage on the network of its members across all other zones in the country to achieve this lofty agenda,” the group submitted.
Apart from Odu-Oji, some of those who attended the briefing were Rt. Hon. Efa Esua, Rt.Hon.Fred Osim, Rt.Hon Nelson Ofem, Rt. Hon.ltam Abang, Rt. Hon. Friday Okpechi, Hon. Francis Ovat, Chief (Hon.) Donatus Etim, Chief (Hon) Godwin Ettah, Chief (Hon)Mike Usibe, Chief(Rt.Hon) Moses Onor, Hon.Rita Ayim, Hon. Chief Francis Ettah, Comrade Asu Okang and others.
While some of the above persons are sitting Cross River House of Assembly members, others were immediate past Commissioners/Special Advisers in the Gov Ben Ayade’s government.
