The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council in Rivers predicts that the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would win the state election.
Sunday in Abuja, Lee Maeba, chairman of the Rivers PDP presidential campaign committee, spoke at a town hall meeting with Abubakar.
Following the cancellation of the party’s presidential campaign rally in the state due to reported attacks on council members, the Rivers state chapter of the PDP conducted the meeting in Abuja.
Maeba predicted that Abubakar would win the Rivers election despite the “antics” of state governor Nyesom Wike.
Wike, who was beaten by Abubakar in the May 2022 PDP presidential primary, has not openly endorsed the ex-vice president.
Maeba stated that Rivers citizens have always supported Abubakar and that the 2023 election will be no different.
“The toxic climate generated by the acts and words of Rivers state governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike prompted our leaders to cancel the Port Harcourt rally to prevent the loss of human life,” he stated.
“It was a difficult decision for us, especially for the vast majority of Rivers state, who had been waiting for months to meet the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We pray that following your election and inauguration, your first presidential visit would be to the state of Rivers.
“We want to assure you, Mr. aspiring president, that the people of Rivers state support you and will vote for you in overwhelming numbers because you have benefited the state. Thanks to your thinking, our people now have access to a single port.
“Before you entered politics, numerous additional investments around Rivers State and the south-south are evidence of your love for our people.
“Our President-elect, rest assured that, notwithstanding the antics of those currently suffering from ‘post-election loss traumatic syndrome,’ the common people of Rivers State will continue to have your back, just as you have had theirs all these years.”
Maeba urged Abubakar, if elected, to prioritize the construction of the outer Port Harcourt ring road, the completion of the Onne port rail line to connect to the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line, the improvement of the functionality of the Onne and Port Harcourt ports, the actualisation of the Bonny deep seaport, the dredging of inland waterways, the establishment of a dedicated petrochemical industrial park, and the modernisation and upgrade of the Oyorokoto fishing port if elected.