By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Overwhelmed with joy because of the warm reception and promise of logistics support that Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, gave to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the commissioning of Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover on Thursday, traders at Ikoku spare parts market, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, have not only declared support for the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Sim Fubara but have decided to work for his victory in the 2023 general elections.
Already, some of them, unable to contain their excitement over what they see as a surprise support package for Peter Obi by the Rivers governor, have started campaigning for Fubara, telling whoever cares to listen that the PDP gubernatorial flag bearer will be the next governor of the state.
In brief chats with TPCN shortly after the inauguration of the Nkpolu-Oroworukwoflyover, performed by Obi, the excited traders said they would work for Sim Fubara to win the governorship and Peter Obi to win the presidential election.
Dancing and dangling a small Labour Party flag, one of the traders, who could not comport himself to talk, only managed to sing: “Obi for president, Sim for governor.” Another trader, Francis Ejiofo, said: “Obi is our man. He’s the next president. For Rivers State here, na Sim go go; we’ll support him because governor is with us. He said he will support Obi, so we will support Sim. Sim is the next governor of the state. We like him, he’s a humble man. He’s; he’sObi. Two of them dey humble; them go work well. Every should vote for SimEveryonera.”
Abanna Ikeoha, a motor mechanic, also declared support for the Rivers PDP governorship candidate because of Governor Wike’s support for Peter Obi.
“Governor Wike is doing well now. He said he go give Peter Obi full support. So am for Sim now. They say Sim network, Sim network. Me, I dey for that network now. I go work for that network. And that Sim network must win here. Our man, Obi, go win by the grace of God,” Ikeoha said.
It was not possible to get across to the leaders of the Ikoku traders to get their reactions to the development. But reports from other sources are indicating a sudden astronomical increase in support for the Rivers PDP and their Governorshipare candidate, Sim Fubara, since Governor Nyesom Wike’s promise of logistics support for Dr Peter Obi during the commissioning of the 9th flyover at Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
During his speech, Wike described Peter Obi as a man of integrity who can be trusted.
He told the Labour Party presidential candidate to inform him whenever he wants to come for his presidential campaign in Rivers state so that he would take care of his logistics.
Obi lauded Governor Wike for his consistency and achievements in infrastructural development. He assured that he would transform Nigeria if voted into power.
The presidential candidate said: “I know the problem of Nigeria. Nigerians are not productive. The land of the north will be our next oil wells, the south-west will be our financial centre, the east will be our manufacturing hub, Port Harcourt will be the export city of the country.”
