Rivers people are fed up with PDP, yearning for change — APC Chieftain
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
A former Federal Lawmaker in Rivers State and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Sokonte Davies, said that the seven-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Gov. Nyesom Wike in the State has been traumatic to the people.
Davies added that residents are desperately yearning for a change, which according to him is in APC.
He stated this in an exclusive interview with Nigerian NewsDirect in Port Harcourt.
According to him, Governor Wike had from the onset abandoned governance for politics, hence his failure in all facets of the people’s lives.
He cited education, health, human capacity development and job creation as some of the numerous areas the Wike-administration could not address since inception.
According to the former Lawmaker, Rivers people are yet to come to terms with how the Wike-led administration squandered trillions of Naira that came to the State for about seven years with nothing to show for it.
“Rivers people are fed up with PDP and are yearning for a change. And that change is in APC.
“Rivers people are yet to see or know how PDP squandered trillions of Naira that accrued the State over these years, with nothing to show for it,” he said.
He promised that APC Governor, when elected in 2023 will standardise education, healthcare, among others to reposition the State once again that used to be ‘World Book Capital’ under former Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
He chided the current free education without funding of the PDP administration, describing it as ridiculous.
Commenting on the high level of unemployment in the State, Davies lamented that all the sources of employment created by the previous government have been abandoned and destroyed by the current PDP government.
He cited the Songhai farm, Plantain Plantation and Buguma fishing factory,to name but a few, as some of them employment entities of the Amaechi regime that were abandoned by the Wike’s visionless administration.
On insecurity, Davies said the PDP government in Rivers State does not have clean hands and therefore cannot go to equity.
He accused them of whining and dining with criminals, hence they lack the moral standing to tackle insecurity in the state.
He was categorical that when the APC government comes onboard it will give all the criminals ultimatum to either repent or relocate from the state.
The idea, he said is to return Port Harcourt to its old glory and night life, thereby restoring its original garden city status, where lives and property are secure, with trees and flowers adorning the streets.
This, he said is possible and doable under a visionary leader.
Asked to comment on the presidential ambition of his boss and Transportation Minister of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Davies said who the cap fits should be allowed to wear it.
He said Amaechi as a two-term Speaker was elected Speaker of Speakers due to his pedigree, adding that as a two-term Governor, he was elected Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and he did marvelously well.
Now as “two time Transportation Minister, he has done well and is still doing well. So if given the opportunity to serve at the highest echelon of the country political leadership he will still do wonderfully well.”
The former Lawmaker said he is praying and urging Nigerians to see reason why they should elect Amaechi as President, if he emerges flag bearer of APC for 2023 general elections in the country.
Asked to comment on his own governorship ambition in Rivers State, he said, “My ambition in 2023 is not the subject matter of this interview. However, some of us have individual interests in enthroning good governance in 2023, but this will be done amicably by our party, the All Progressives Congress.”
