Governor Nyesom Wike has lamented the actions of some anti-democratic forces who he said are still plotting against Rivers State ahead of the 2023 elections.
He said that no matter the plot, Rivers State would continue to defend her votes.
Speaking on Saturday during the funeral service in honour of the late Dr Ferry Gberegbe, Wike said that because of the murder of the PDP agent, those plotting against the state would never win the 2023 election.
Dr Gberegbe, an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party was allegedly murdered by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, on March 10 at Bori Gubernatorial collation centre.
According to Wike, “I heard someone say two days ago, somebody in China told somebody in Port Harcourt that what happened in Imo State, that is what they will do in 2023.
“They said they will write results and the court will accept the results. I said Rivers State is a different state. If you write results, you face the consequences. I am not worried because these people are always boasting.
“In 2015, they said nobody would be governor; somebody became governor. In 2019, we will see what will happen and you will not even see electoral material, but today, we are governor.
”Now, to give their people hope, they are talking of 2023. As a result of this young man, they will not see the Government House in 2023.”
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Wike called on Nigerians to insist on defending their votes despite the devices of security forces working with anti-democratic agents to manipulate elections.
The governor said Nigerians must not allow anti-democratic forces to hijack the democratic process under any guise.
He said, “He (Gberegbe) did not die because of sickness; he did not die because he was doing something illegal. He died in defence of our votes. The only crime he committed was to defend our votes.
”It is only in this part of the country that you defend your votes and they say that you have committed an offence. Our friend and brother is gone, but he paid the price for democracy to survive in Nigeria.
”He paid for democracy to survive in Rivers State. As for those of us who have that spirit, he has laid the foundation for the defence of democracy.”
The governor assured the family of the late Gberegbe that he (Wike) would stand with them.
