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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday, openly traded off his party’s governorship candidate in Rivers State, Comrade Beatrice Itubo, for the PDP governorship candidate, Siminalaye Fubara, in order to get Wike’s support for his presidential ambition.
While inaugurating the Nkpolu Oroworukwo Flyover in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state, Obi, who was accompanied by his running mate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, appealed to Wike to support his presidential ambition, while his party members and supporters in the state will vote for the PDP governorship candidate, Fubara, in return.
“Today, we have not come for campaign, we are here for commissioning. I have listened to what you said that I should tell Labour Party people that they should be careful about the state. I will talk to them; we will negotiate.
“I will tell them that Oga said if you give to this side, you give to the other side too. If we leave the state (governorship) for him, he will leave the federal (presidency) for us. So, we will negotiate it.
“You know you are in charge. We will not quarrel with you; anybody who quarrels with you doesn’t know what he is doing. I will not try it. I am begging, give us federal and we will give you the state,” he said
The LP presidential candidate lauded Wike for being a man of good character, who has remain consistent with his opinions and positions on issues.
“Let me first thank you and the good people of Rivers State for inviting us. You did not need to invite us but you invited us. I feel specially honoured to be invited for a second time to commission a project. We are sincerely grateful.
“Nobody in this country can doubt your performance. Most importantly, you have remained consistently consistent on positions you have taken. What we lack in the country today is character, competence and capacity but these are qualities you have as a state governor and I am sure it will continue with the incoming governor.
“When I come to Rivers State to campaign, I will tell them that if I have the opportunity of serving this country, the people of Rivers State and the people of Niger Delta will remain grateful to me because I will change Niger Delta. If I have the opportunity, we will not serve you from Abuja, we will serve you from your state. We will bring governance closer to the people,” Obi added.
Wike had earlier promised to provide vehicles and make logistics available to facilitate Obi’s campaigns in the state.