The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged supporters of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to mobilise votes for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, saying stronger electoral help might safe extra federal appointments and infrastructure tasks for the state.
Wike made the enchantment on Monday in Port Harcourt throughout a gathering with Fubara-aligned supporters and youth leaders, the place he referred to as for reconciliation amongst political teams and a united entrance behind Tinubu forward of the 2027 common elections.
He mentioned Rivers State might achieve better political affect and extra federal alternatives if it ranked among the many three states with the very best variety of votes for the president.
“All I want to hear in this state is Tinubu and nothing but Tinubu. If we play the role we are playing now, and we are one of the first three states that get the highest number of votes, we will get more of the appointments,” Wike mentioned.
The minister argued that supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid was within the curiosity of Rivers State, noting that the present administration had given federal appointments to indigenes of the state.
He additionally cited infrastructure tasks, together with the Bonny highway, as proof of the federal authorities’s dedication to Rivers, including that stronger electoral help might create additional growth alternatives, significantly for younger folks.
Wike mentioned his political curiosity was to make sure that Rivers retained a outstanding place in nationwide affairs and was not sidelined in federal decision-making.
“I am not going to be governor again; this is for your own interest. I want this state to grow. I want this state to play an important role in the politics of Nigeria,” he mentioned.
He urged political leaders and grassroots youth teams to place previous disagreements behind them, restore strained relationships and put together marketing campaign committees forward of the 2027 elections and Tinubu’s deliberate go to to the state.
Acknowledging that political realignments might generate disagreements, Wike assured aggrieved members that reconciliation efforts had been underway to make sure their inclusion.
“We are talking for survival and growth,” he mentioned.
Earlier, former Port Harcourt Mayor, Ezebunwo Ichemati, who spoke on behalf of the governor’s supporters, pledged the group’s readiness to work with Wike and the Rainbow Coalition to safe victory for Tinubu and different candidates within the 2027 elections.
Ichemati described the assembly as a turning level in Rivers politics, saying it signalled a transfer in direction of unity between the Wike and Fubara camps after months of political rigidity.
He likened the disaster to a household dispute that had been resolved by way of reconciliation, stressing that the precedence was to maneuver ahead collectively.
“Every family has its own peculiarity in problems. What matters most is that the family comes together, the children watch what has divided them, and decide to move forward,” he mentioned.
He described Wike because the main political determine in Rivers State and credited each the minister and Fubara with facilitating the peace initiative. According to him, the governor was conscious of and supported the assembly.
Ichemati additionally pledged to mobilise grassroots youths who had beforehand supported rival camps, saying they might now work collectively to ship the coalition’s candidates.
“The state has been held again for a really very long time. Now that you’re bringing this peace initiative all the way down to the youths, who’re the foot troopers, I wish to guarantee you that we commit ourselves to affix our brothers within the Rainbow Coalition.
“What you see here today will transform into a force that will deliver. We don’t want to say much. All we can say is: test us, try us, and we will deliver,” he mentioned.
The assembly comes amid political realignments forward of the 2027 common elections, because the Rainbow Coalition seeks to consolidate help for Tinubu and different candidates in Rivers State.
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