Former ministers declare support for Wike 

Former Ministers who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan have declared their support for Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the face of what they called a political siege on the state, allegedly masterminded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former ministers, under the aegis of Forum of Former Ministers, during a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Thursday night, asked the governor to stand firm in his defence of democracy, even as they described him as a pillar of democracy.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, the former ministers also lauded Wike for providing the right leadership for the people of the state, just as the governor assured that he would remain focused to defend democracy and the interest of the Rivers people.

Present at the solidarity visit were former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Jigawa State governor, Dr Sule Lamido; former Minister of Education and former Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; former Minister of Youth Development and former Adamawa State governor, Mr Boni Haruna; former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih; former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and Ambassador Musa Kazaure.

Chairman of the forum, Lamido, said the solidarity visit to Wike was aimed at encouraging him to remain steadfast and focused in his promotion of the tenets of democracy, adding, “We are with you in your travails. We support you all the way.

“We know that you are under siege by anti-democratic forces. No matter the tyranny of the oppressor, the voice of the people must be heard. That was the case of Rivers State during the Rivers rerun elections”.

The former Jigawa State governor alleged that Nigerians were daily being divided by the APC-led Federal Government, which he said had no respect for the principles of democracy, but urged governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to provide a platform for the revival of the party.

“Nigerians are looking on to PDP for salvation and emancipation from APC. Our governors must stand together to be our rallying point”, he said.

Responding, Governor Wike said Rivers people had resolved to remain with PDP, adding, “We will continue to stand firm and defend democracy. For us, we have made up our mind. Our family is PDP. We are prepared to pay the price. We are determined to work for PDP at all times”.

While assuring that the crisis in the party would soon be over in the interest of the country, he said the state learnt the required lessons in the legislative rerun election, held last December, noting that the lessons would guide it in the future.