Rivers State governor-elect, Mr Nyesom Wike, has commended the people of the state for overwhelmingly voting for him as he promised to revive the state and give it a new lease of life.
He also said that the only winner in the governorship election is Rivers State, noting that no candidate lost the election.
Speaking during a victory thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt, Wike said that with the release of the results, all attachments to party affiliations will be obliterated across the state.
He said: “With the release of the governorship election results, there is no loser in the election because Rivers State has won. I want to appeal to all our members to set aside all political differences and embrace all Rivers people irrespective of their political leaning.”
According to official results declared by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled 1,029,102 votes, to defeat Dr Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who polled 124, 846 votes. Wike won in 20 local government areas, while Peterside won in two local government areas. Results from Emohua Local Government Area were cancelled.
Addressing journalists earlier at his residence, yesterday, after his declaration by INEC as the governor-elect of the state, Wike assured Rivers people that he will live up to their expectations by delivering on the cardinal programmes contained in the New Rivers Vision 2015.
He called on the people of the state to unite and work as a collective in the coming months, saying that it was imperative to forge ahead on all fronts despite the challenges the state is facing.
Wike noted that the electioneering phase was over and the phase of development has set in. He extended a hand of fellowship to all his opponents during the elections, urging them to join hands with him to develop a new Rivers State where every resident will be accommodated in the growth process.
He said: “I will, to the best of my ability and with the fear of God, develop a new Rivers State where opportunities for growth will be open to everyone resident in the state. Under my leadership, we shall all form a common front to ensure development for all communities.
“We will not persecute anyone, but we shall remain focussed on the urgent needs of development across the state and the need to empower the vast majority of our people. We will run a transparent administration that will be fully accountable to the people, ensuring that Rivers people get value for their resources.”
He said that he will settle down with other Rivers State stakeholders to quickly address critical areas that require immediate attention for the revival of the state.
Also speaking, his wife, Justice Suzzette Wike, assured the people of the state that she will provide the needed support to ensure that her husband remains focussed in the delivery of developmental programmes for the state.
Former Rivers State governor, Sir Celestine Omehia urged the governor-elect to unite all political interests in the state as the new father of the state for the expected revival of the state.
PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, congratulated all Rivers people on the emergence of Wike as their incoming governor, assuring that he will bring the dividends of good governance to their door steps.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Desmond Aka who served as the Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Organisation, assured that Wike will redefine development in the state through the diligent execution of programmes contained in the New Rivers Vision 2015.
