The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has offered to provide protocol and logistics support to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso whenever he wants to campaign in Rivers State.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Kelvin Ebiri, the Rivers governor made the offer when Kwankwaso inaugurated the Mgbuitanwo internal road in Emohua Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
Wike described Kwankwaso as a man of integrity who numbers among the leaders that Nigeria needs.
Wike revealed that the NNPP presidential candidate had assured him that his supporters who were still in PDP would vote for him during the PDP presidential primary and they did.
“If you’re coming for campaign here, I will give you the logistic support for you to campaign. You’re a former governor,” the Rivers governor said.
He however told Kwankwaso that it was difficult for any other party to win in Rivers State, therefore, it would be futile for him to waste resources, thinking he would win election for any candidate of his party in the state.
Recall that Wike had also pledged to provide logistical support for the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi’s campaign in the state.
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Meanwhile, Wike explained that he had tried in vain to persuade leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to allow Kwankwaso to leave the party because of the strategic importance of Kano State.
“When you wanted to leave PDP, I came to your house in Abuja. I said sir, don’t leave the party. I pleaded with you. I came two times. Those who never meant well for this party, who will want to take control where they never sowed. They said no, leave Kwankwaso to go. Who is he? Let him go, after all, I was a Senate President when he was Deputy Speaker House of Representatives. I said no, he is an asset to the party in Kano State. Kano is very important for our party, therefore, whatever it takes let’s keep him, let manage him. They said let him go.
“I said the more the merrier. We are opposition party, we cannot continue to drive our people away. Whoever is angry, let’s keep him, they said no. They said I went to see Kwankwaso, I said yes, because I know with him in Kano, there is likelihood that it will be better for us. But if we allow him to go, the repercussion will be too heavy. They said no. Kwankwaso left us,” Wike said.