2nd February, 2016
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has repeated his threat to any official of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who has the intention of coming to the state to rig the forthcoming rerun state and National Assembly elections prepare his will as he will be meted with the same punishment as an armed robber.
According to him, the people believe in the transformational leadership of the PDP, stressing that it was exhibited in Bayelsa State, where the use of force by security agents failed to deliver electoral victory.
“Anyone who plans to rig an election is an armed robber and should be treated as such. If you are coming to rig an election in the state, first prepare your will before embarking on the journey. Inform your wife or husband and go ahead to say your last prayer.
“When they used the security forces in Bayelsa State, it didn’t work. It will also not work here in Rivers State. Rivers State is a peaceful state and our people are peace loving. We want to remain so.”
Wike has also declared every 27 January as work-free day to commemorate the day his governorship mandate was affirmed at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court delivered the judgment validating Governor Wike’s election on 27 January, 2016.
While addressing thousands of civil servants at the State Civil Service Secretariat in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that the public holiday signifies God’s intervention in the affairs of Rivers State.
He said: “Every January 27 will be observed as a public holiday in this state because that is the day God came down to save Rivers State. What people must understand is that power comes from God. We know God speaks last and he has spoken.”
The governor also announced that Friday, 5 February will be observed as a public holiday to enable all Rivers people prepare for the rerun elections.
Governor Wike urged the civil servants and other Rivers people to ensure they vote for PDP candidates in the re-run elections to promote harmony in governance and sustain the development agenda of the state government.
He pointed out that the defeated APC in the state plans to use the rerun elections to enter the political arena through the window, having been shut out by the people and the Supreme Court.
Governor Wike said: “When someone cannot come through the door, he may want to come through the window. Rivers people must not allow them. Our people must stop them from entering through the window to obstruct the good works of this administration.”
Speaking further on the rerun elections, Governor Wike said that the will of the Rivers people will prevail, adding that the use of security forces and other electoral officials to rig the process will fail woefully.
The governor assured civil servants and pensioners that his administration will continue to pay their salaries and pensions, adding that all welfare issues will be given top priority.
Wike, however, stated that steps will be taken by the administration to verify the actual number of civil servants and pensioners to stop payment to ghost beneficiaries.
The governor added that the administration will work out modalities to improve the state’s internally generated revenue.
Earlier, Head of the Civil Service, Rufus Godwin, commended the governor for being up to date in the payment of salaries and pensions.
He assured the governor of the loyalty of the workers.