The emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu as President-elect in the just concluded February 25 polls has been described as a reconnection of Rivers State to the Federal Government.
Wike noted Tinubu’s victory represents hope for the state as its connection to the federal government would be reignited.
The governor at the gathering of 48 APC support groups and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate in the state, Siminialaye Fubara in Port Harcourt, the state capital noted that the state had suffered great neglect by the centre in the last eight years, so Tinubu’s victory has brought hope.
Wike who was represented by the state PDP Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawo, submitted that “Rivers State is reconnected again to the Federal Government. Within the last eight years, it has been a war.
“Rivers State has been at loggerheads with the Federal Government and we said, no, this war cannot continue. So, for us in Rivers, he (Wike) has reconnected us back to the mainstream of governance in this country.
“We supported Asiwaju so that power can return to the South. Whether Asiwaju or Peter Obi, for us, the next president must be a Southerner in the spirit of equity.
“So, in that same spirit of equity, Rivers State, having elected a governor from Rivers West through Peter Odili, Rivers East through Rotimi Amaechi and Wike, we said power should go to Rivers Southeast and to riverine parts of Rivers Southeast since all the governors have been from the upland.
“So, in the next 72 hours, Rivers State will elect the youngest governor in Nigeria, in the person of Sim Fubara, for a better succession plan. Lagos State is succeeding because it has a better succession plan, from Asiwaju to Babatunde Fashola to the incumbent governor of Lagos State. Sim is a man who understands Rivers State.”
Also speaking at the gathering was the leader of APC in Rivers State and Coordinator of the Tinubu/Fubara Support Groups, Tony Okocha, who said “On the 25th of February while some APC members were working against our presidential candidate, the PDP in Rivers State supported Asiwaju. So, we have come to pay back because one good turn deserves another. So, on March 18, we will be coming out in our numbers to reciprocate his kind gesture by voting for PDP candidate, Sim Fubara, as governor of Rivers State.
“In Rivers State, we want to chart a new course as a vanguard, and that new course is that we will be voting PDP candidate, Sim Fubara, as governor of Rivers State.”
 presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu as President-elect in the just concluded February 25 polls has been described as a reconnection of Rivers State to the Federal Government.){kind=link}