The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike Monday said that no one man’s interest is bigger than the state. Wike reportedly made the statement when he received the deputy governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, who defected to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Monday.
Receiving the 71-year-old at the government House Port-Harcourt, Wike charged all leaders to work together to move Rivers State forward.
Speaking during a solidarity visit at the state House where chief Yeeh apparently announced his defection to the PDP, Wike noted that history will be kind to him (the defector), for placing Rivers interest above personal consideration.
The Former AAC Deputy Governorship Candidate was received by Wike and the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Others present at the ceremony are the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, Ex-Governor Celestine Omehia, Senator-elect Barry Mpigi and other leaders of party in the State.
Wike said: “History will be on your side. You have shown that the interest of the state is above personal consideration. God will not only protect you, He will reward you for this decision.
“Rivers State is the only state we have. Everyone must work together to move this state forward. It is important to take this state to greater heights.
“It is not everyone that can take this kind of decision. It requires maturity to take this kind of decision “.
The Governor said all leaders of Rivers State irrespective of their political affiliations must work in unity to develop the State.
He said: “All of us must work together in order to forge ahead. No one man’s interest is bigger than that of the State”.
He accorded a warm welcome to the new entrant and promised to incorporate him into the group that will consolidate the development of the state.
“You are welcome to the party that will move the state forward. Those on the other side must understand that you cannot kill people, just to be in power. With this bold decision, our brothers on the other side know that the end has come,” he said.
He lauded the former Deputy Governorship Candidate for refusing to be allowed to be a tool for the destabilisation of the state.
Also speaking, Secondus described the defection as a welcome development that will help move the state forward.
He said: “This is a welcome development. This is what a normal situation is supposed to be. The people will see the reason why we must work together. This is an uncommon decision. You have taken a wise decision because you have the interest of the people at heart”.
Secondus called on INEC to bring the Rivers election to a logical conclusion, so that the people can continue with their lives.
The PDP Boss called on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and other persons working with him to see reason they should stop destabilising the state and causing confusion.
Earlier, Yeeh had said that the state developed by the founding fathers should be sustained by the efforts of all patriots.
He said: “Today, I am in your midst to declare my defection to the PDP. Governor Wike is a man of vision. He is a man of compassion. It is his compassion that endears him to the people of Rivers State. I choose to identify with him to move the state forward.”
He added that as a retired security personnel, he would work with Governor Wike to promote the security of the State.
Yeah informed Wike that he has officially withdrawn his candidacy for AAC.
“I officially announce the withdrawal of my candidacy for the AAC. My loyalty is with the PDP. I cannot afford to leave the fast lane and go to the slow lane,” he said.
On his part, Obuah said the new member has searched his conscience and decided to work with the PDP to develop the state.
