The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that no politician should assume he/she would get automatic votes from the state.
Wike made the submission on Thursday while boasting about the capability of Rivers State to deliver massive votes during elections.
He made his stand known while speaking during the flag-off of the 11th flyover project, which was performed by former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke, at the Rumuola- Ikwerre Road-Rumuokwuta Roundabout in Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
The Governor however stated that the state would no longer be a Father Christmas with its votes and anybody that would get the votes must visit the state and give assurances of having the interest of the people at heart.
Naija News reports Governor Wike’s rant is believed to be a veiled message to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his team amidst the crisis rocking the party.
Wike added that he won’t look for anybody and anyone that wants his support or the votes of Rivers State must visit the state.
In his words, “I believe that they must know us here because we have what it takes to deliver. They must come and know us. I’m not going to find anybody.
“You must come here. You can’t take 600 and something thousand votes away from my local government. You can’t take 3.2million votes from my State just like that.”
No More Father Christmas
Wike maintained that if in the past, votes from Rivers State have been deemed to be automatic, such will no longer happen as Rivers people must also get benefits for giving their votes.
He said, “If we were father Christmas before, we won’t be father Christmas again. You must tell me what is there for me if I should vote. So nobody should bother himself. At the appropriate time, we will talk to our people and our people will understand.
“If you say we don’t exist, we will tell you that you don’t exist. I am not a son to anybody. I am a son of Rivers State. I am working to attract what will benefit Rivers State.”
No Politician Can Take Rivers For Granted
Governor Wike stated further that his local government alone can give over 600,000 votes and the entire state will give millions of votes, hence no politician serious about winning elections can ignore Rivers State.
He said: “This Local Government alone, Obio Akpor, where I come from, we registered not less than 600,000 voters. This local government beats two states in their electoral strength.
“So we are not a State that you can take for granted, not to talk about the Local Government where I come from”.
This article was originally published on Naija News
