Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed that his people will use their votes to punish those abusing them.
Wike, who hails from Obi Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, said this during his “Thank you” visit to the area on Sunday.
Boasting that Obi Akpor people have the political might to produce the next governor of Rivers, Wike said the LGA produced 40 percent of votes in the last election.
“So for the people of Obio/Akpor, we have the power to dictate who becomes governor. All these people commenting from the sidelines, ask them if their local government, which produced only 5,000 votes, can challenge one that produced 40 per cent of the votes? Let us see how it will work.”
“We will use our strength to punish them. Nobody has become governor in this state without Obio/Akpor making the pronouncement. Nobody has become the senator of Rivers East without Obio/Akpor deciding. So, if you like abusing us, after abusing us, come and look for the votes—and we will punish you with the votes.”
Earlier, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of Representative, pointed out that Obio/Akpor has over 684, 000 votes out of the 3.5 million registered voters in Rivers.
Chinda, who represents the LGA in Green Chamber, said with such voting strength, nobody would challenge the political power of the LGA in the state.
“Just go home. Tell us what you want us to do and we will do it,” he told the minister.
Chairman of the Council, Dr Gift Worlu, described Wike as a gift to the LGA, the state and the country, due to his outstanding performance in public service at the local, state and national levels.
Worlu thanked the minister for the many things he had done for the people of the LGA, adding that supporting the election of Tinubu in 2023 had led to the harvest upon harvest of benefits to the people.
He assured the minister that the people know where to go in the 2027 presidential election in the state.
Speaking on the gubernatorial election, the chairman said, “we do not know where to go yet, but we know where not to go”.
Also, Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, reassured the minister of the full support of people in the local government area.
Amaewhule added that members of the State Assembly would continue to pray for him and support his call for the reelection of Tinubu for a second term.
“Tell Mr President that what we did for him in 2023, we will do even better in 2027,” he assured.
(NAN)
