Why I endorsed Wike —Patience Jonathan

Ahead of the 2015 governorship election, First Lady of the nation, Dame Patience Jonathan, has stated her reason  for endorsing Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, describing him as the next governor of the state.

Dame Jonathan spoke during the burial of Senator Tari James Sekibo, at Okirika, on Saturday.

She told the Okirika Council of Chiefs at the burial,'Before you today is the next governor of Rivers State. He is the former Minister of state for Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike'.

She said she stood by those committed to total development of all Rivers people, not leaders who insisted on emasculating other groups through policies that would displace them.

She added that such leaders would also not be allowed to produce their successor in the state, because their anointed successor had been briefed to continue their similar divisive policies.

She said, 'The PDP is the best party and the most popular party in the country. The PDP is the leading party that will win Rivers State.'

Speaking on the virtues of the late Senator Tari James Sekibo, Mr Jonathan said that the senator believed in development and was committed to making sacrifices for the growth of the nation.

Earlier, Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Mr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, urged all political leaders in the state to work towards building bridges of unity to enhance development in the state.

The PDP governorship candidate spoke on Saturday at Okirika when he paid condolence visit to the family of the late Senator James Sekibo, alongside Dame Patience Jonathan.

Barrister Wike described the Senator as a founding member of PDP, saying that he worked hard during his lifetime to unite all ethnic groups in Rivers State.

He said, 'For the late Senator James Sekibo, the unity of all Rivers people was always paramount. He worked day and night for the unity of Ogoni, Okirika, Kalabari, Ikwerre, Eleme, Etche and every other ethnic group in the state,' he added. Tribune