TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council in Rivers says Atiku Abubakar, the party’s standard-bearer, will win the poll in the state.

Lee Maeba, chairman of the Rivers PDP presidential campaign council, spoke on Sunday at a town hall meeting with Abubakar in Abuja.

The Rivers state chapter of the PDP held the meeting in Abuja following the cancellation of the party’s presidential campaign rally in the state due to alleged attacks on council members.

Maeba said Abubakar would win the poll in Rivers despite the “antics” of Nyesom Wike, governor of the state.

Wike, who was defeated by Abubakar at the PDP presidential primary in May 2022, has not publicly declared support for the former vice-president.

Maeba said Rivers residents have always supported Abubakar and the 2023 poll won’t be an exception.

“The toxic atmosphere created by the actions and utterances of the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, resulted in the decision of our leaders to shelf the Port Harcourt rally to avoid the loss of human lives,” he said.

“It was a painful decision for us, especially the great masses of Rivers state, all of whom had been eagerly waiting for months to come face-to-face with the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is our prayer that after your election and swearing-in, Rivers state would be your first presidential visit.

“We want to assure you, Mr president-in-waiting, that the people of Rivers state support you and will overwhelmingly cast their votes for you because you have been a benefactor of the state. One port is what it has become for our people because of your foresight.

“Numerous other investments all over Rivers State and the south-south are evidence of your love for our people even before you entered politics.

“Our President-in-waiting, be reassured that as one of us, despite the antics of those who are still suffering from ‘post-election loss traumatic syndrome’, the ordinary people of Rivers State will continue to have your back, as you have had theirs all these years.”

Maeba asked Abubakar to prioritise the construction of the outer Port Harcourt ring road, complete the Onne port rail line to join the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line, improve the functionality of the Onne and Port Harcourt ports, actualise the Bonny deep seaport, dredge inland waterways, establish a dedicated petrochemical industrial park, and modernise and upgrade the Oyorokoto fishing port if elected.