Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared interest to contest for the position of president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Wike made his declaration in Makurdi, Bauchi State capital, while addressing a stakeholders gathering of the opposition party.
“It is obvious I am going to run for the presidency of this country,” the governor announced. “I am declaring for the first time in Benue state because of my special relationship with them. People are not suspecting, but let it be known today that I am announcing it in Benue because I have a special relationship with this state.”
He stated that under his presidency, Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies would be availed requisite equipment and incentives to discharge their constitutional obligations with defined timelines to tackle lingering insecurity with no room for excuses.
“Today, you can’t talk about security in this country and you understand that without security you can’t talk about governance. One first thing anybody who takes an oath of office swears to is that you must protect life and property.
“If you can’t protect life and property then you can’t talk about governance. So the major thing is that our people should be alive,” he asserted.
The Rivers helmsman said foreign investments are not coming into the country because of the disregard the incumbent administration has for court orders.
“Nobody can bring investment in this country because there is no respect for the rule of law,” he explained. “Nobody obeys court order. Who will come and invest his money when the court gives its judgement and it will not be obeyed. So, I am going to run for election and victory will be ours.”
He also attacked returnees that left the party in 2015 but are not seeking its presidential ticket.
“Those who want to be president now were the problems of the party in 2015,” he said. “They ran away when the party needed them most. But I have stood and worked for this party. I have nowhere to run to because I take it personally that the party should not die. I challenge anyone in a debate what they did for PDP.”
