Port Harcourt: The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says Rivers is battle-ready for the 2027 presidential election.
Wike inaugurated the Rivers Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ Secretariat on Saturday in Port Harcourt, where he made these remarks.
The Minister said the headquarters houses Majority FM 89.5, which is dedicated to the Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ movement. The building also contains a situation room and office facilities. Wike stressed, “Rivers is totally for Tinubu.”
Wike noted that ‘unity is strength’, adding that with the situation room and a radio station dedicated to the course, “Rivers is only for Tinubu and is battle ready for his reelection come 2027.
“I have said before that Rivers is a no-go area, and I want to say again that this state is totally for Tinubu.
“We have made sure that all the 23 local governments and zonal coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors are up and running, indicating that Rivers is a no-go area for other contenders”.
He said that the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Ambassador Secretariat and vehicles was the first of its kind in the South-South region of the country.
Wike maintained that Rivers’ commitment to Tinubu’s reelection for a second term was genuine, not lip service or media propaganda.
He commended the Coordinator of Rivers Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Amb. Desmond Akawor for his mobilisation drive to ensure massive support for Tinubu.
He said that Akawor has shown the capacity to mobilise the electorate by moving to all the nooks and crannies of Rivers to talk about Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.
“It is evident that we don’t need a governor to mobilise. We have everything we need to succeed on our own.
We have senators, members of the National and State Assemblies, council chairmen, and APC and PDP party chairmen.
“We have mobilised ourselves to make a commitment. If you say you are supporting somebody, there is no need for the person to bring his resources; you have to make commitments, and this is what our leaders have done,” he said.
The Minister recalled that in 2023, Rivers’ electorate came out and voted for Tinubu without pressure from anybody. He added that they are now enjoying the benefits of such support.
“When Mr President shows interest that he will run for a second term in 2027, we have no choice but to continue to support him, whether anybody likes it or not,” he said.
He asked Akawor to begin preparations for the inauguration of ward and unit coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, saying, “It is very important.
“We must also take it down to the units, to go and talk to our people to continue to support Mr President”.
Earlier, Akawor commended the FCT Minister for the Rivers Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ purposeful leadership.
He disclosed that some notable persons have been appointed to lead the Renewed Hope Ambassadors movement in all 23 local governments of the state.