The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday visited Edo State in continuation of his consultation ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) delegate convention in which the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election will be picked.
Wike, while in the State, visited the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II in his Palace.
He also met delegates of the party at the residence of the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Late Chief Tony Anenih, located somewhere in the GRA.
He, however, shunned his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki and the State secretariat of the PDP, along First East Circular Road.
The River State Governor told the Benin Monarch that if elected president of Nigeria, he would focus on checking insecurity by investing massively in intelligence gathering.
He insisted that it is only in a secured environment that economic activities, agriculture and investment in infrastructure could thrive.
He said: “I was here one and a half years ago as the DG of the campaign for the re-election of Governor Obaseki, but I am here today not on behalf of anybody but of myself and my team to seek your prayers.
“I have come to Benin to talk to the delegates of our party that will be part of our national convention by May 28th and 29th. The way our country has fared, Nigeria needs somebody that will see white and say it is white and will see black and say that it is black.
“If the PDP gives me the ticket, I have enough experience to tackle Nigeria’s myriad of problems, having been a local government chairman, Minister of State overseeing Education and now Governor.
“The major issue confronting Nigeria today is insecurity and without security no other activity can function and what we need to tackle insecurity is intelligence gathering which is lacking.
“We are not going to sit down and give excuses, but we will take action and spend resources to gather intelligence.”
Responding, Ewuare II commended the competence and capacity of Wike, based on what he has done as Governor of Rivers State.
“Wike is our son, we love him and if I say so, I believe I am speaking on behalf of our ancestors. We will keep praying for him so that he does not come across anybody that will mislead him, that will mis-inform him and may he and his family not come across harm,” he said.
He, however, urged political leaders to promote and ensure sustenance of the African culture and traditions “because of its superiority over others.”
