After the recent Supreme Court judgment, I spoke from my heart. Just like then, I feel compelled once more, to say a few words. Having observed the recent killings, the unrest and the state of insecurity in the state and with the forthcoming rerun elections in mind, I’d like to address both my supporters and the supporters of the candidates in other political parties, especially the youths.
Political parties come and political parties go, politicians who are on opposing sides in the morning, may end up exchanging words in the afternoon and enjoying laughter and drinks together at night. When the dust settles, we will still need you all, alive and well. My greatest joy from the last election was that none of my supporters lost their lives. Bad as e bad, there will always be a tomorrow. Therefore there will always be hope, as long as we are alive. This is not do or die. Nobody wants to associate with soul killers. Living by the sword only invites the sword into your life. Think deeply. Shun all forms of violence. Even verbal, carry go will still return back to us. Power is transient and it rests with God, so please find peace. I needed to say this to you. And you need to listen.
I will not lie that the implication of the Supreme Court judgment on the card reader is a cause for concern. If PDP can disregard card readers in 2015, why will APC not attempt to do likewise in 2016? Free and fair elections were never a standard in these parts, but now, I fear the arrival of a new law. For those who will still participate in the exercise, I will not tell you how to vote, my preference has always been for the person, not the party. Just like I will not insist my doctor or my Pastor must be a Labour Party member. I’ll vote for candidates based on their competence. Those who shun violence and have an agenda for their people will always get my attention. As I said in my last statement, any Labour party candidate who is serious and needs my support, they will certainly get it. I know a few, so I will support them. Life is not black and white. There are more than two parties.
Both Amaechi and Wike are my friends. I don’t hate either of them. We had differences in political opinion and sometimes disagreed on method and approach, even when there was agreement on direction. On the subject of Jonathan, I agreed with Wike. On the subject of the 2015 election in Rivers state and its conduct, I agreed with Amaechi. Both issues are now in the past and so we have to move on. Wether you like it or not, Wike is the Governor of Rivers state and so his failures or successes belong to all of us. I will always continue to volunteer my support to either of them, in the event they seek it, providing I can do so from within my party and they are prepared to genuinely listen. I will not take sides with either PDP or APC. To me, they are both the same. Two sides of same coin.
Besides, this is not the time for division; it is the time to unite. Granted there is a rerun election on the way, but it will soon come and go. By His grace, we will still be here. Let us think beyond just elections. Now that I am back, I will seek to build consensus where we can agree, between parties and among the political class. Wike, Dakuku, myself. The challenging environment that we are faced with, impacts all of us. We need a multi party approach to our problems and all hands will need to be on deck to achieve solutions. Wike is Governor for all. Not just PDP. He needs to avoid responding to every APC comment, avoid the pettiness of politics and focus on governance. Yes the elections don’t help, but fortunately they are around the corner. So let them come and go. We are falling behind. We have no time to quarrel and fight. People are leaving PH daily and so are the businesses. Insecurity is rife. Where will the jobs come from and how are we going to empower the youth? That alone should be the priority for all of us. So please do not die for APC or PDP. Live for Rivers state and let Rivers state live for you.
Let me close by saying that as much as I have focused these past few months on getting my businesses back on track and finishing projects like my movie 76, I have never taken my heart or my eyes away from Rivers state. I see the senseless killings and I condemn them in their entirety. I put a lot personally into moving this state forward. I wanted to make Rivers state a new “Dubai” as Governor, but God had a different plan for us. It must not be me leading, but this Rivers state must still move forward. That is non-negotiable. I felt the same way in 2007. I feel the same way today. I pray that we select our words, choose love over hate and forgive those who have trespassed against us. To all those I have offended, let me be the first to beg for your forgiveness. It is time to let bygones be bygones. We all make mistakes. That is why pencils have erasers. There is plenty of work that is needed to be done. Let us agree to begin to do it.
