The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, decried the high level of insecurity in the country as he solicited votes from delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the party’s presidential primaries which hold in May.
He was speaking on Wednesday at Transcorp Hotel in Calabar while declaring to stakeholders and party members his desire to contest the presidential election in 2023.
Wike, who declared in presence of former governors, Liyel Imoke, Donald Duke, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Senators Gershom Bassey and Sandy Onor, House of Representatives members, and governorship aspirants, among others, said, “There is insecurity everywhere. You cannot fight insecurity without spending on intelligence. We are not spending money on intelligence. That is what is lacking. It is not about amassing weapons. Without the protection of lives and property, there is no governance.”
He described the Anchor Borrowers programme as a fraud, with nothing to show, adding that “This government is expert in diverting money. Give it to them. Nobody is saying anything. I will say.”
Earlier, he said, “I want to make myself available to the people of Cross River State that I will run for the presidency of Nigeria. I am not running to negotiate for anything. I am running to become president of Nigeria. I am not collecting any other form. I will collect the presidential form and win. Delegates, don’t waste your votes. Give me your mandate. Give me the ticket and the election is over.”
He said that the issue of consensus for the presidential ticket was a grand deception, adding that consensus must be based on equity, justice, and fairness.
He called on the party leaders in the state to unite and reclaim Cross River State in 2023.
Various speakers, including the state chairman of the party, Venatius Ikem, acknowledged the support Wike had been rendering to the state.
Others said that Wike had the capacity to lead the country, adding that one good turn deserved another, and promised to back his presidential bid.
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