Barely four days after Achor Nna, the councilor representing the ward of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, resigned his position to support Governor Siminalayi Fubara, another group of Wike’s supporters has collapsed their structure for the Rivers governor.
The latest to join Fubara’s camp is a group of 12 men who were Local Government Coordinators of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), a political pressure group that was instrumental in the massive mobilization at the grassroots for the FCT minister while contesting the governorship elections in Rivers State since 2015.
The coordinators represent Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt City, Opobo/Nkoro, Gokana, Bonny, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, and Obio/Akpor local government areas where Wike comes from.
Collins Onunwo, the former coordinator in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, led the delegation to the Governor at the Government House in Port Harcourt. They resigned from their leadership positions in GDI to protect, defend, and promote the interests of Rivers State and its people.
Onunwo stated, "We want the public, Rivers people, and all Nigerians to know that GDI is the group founded by the former governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. That group brought him to power in 2015 and supported his ambition in 2019. But today, we and our supporters have decided we are no longer members of GDI. The reason is simple: we want to be with Rivers people. Rivers’ interest is paramount."
He emphasized their commitment to supporting Governor Fubara and protecting the votes that brought him to power in a credible, fair, and violence-free election. The group aims to align with the sentiments of millions of Rivers residents who insist on safeguarding their votes to sustain democracy.
