In a significant turn of events, a group of 12 Local Government Coordinators of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), who were once staunch supporters of Nyesom Wike, have announced their decision to join Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s camp.
These coordinators, who were instrumental in mobilising support for Wike during the governorship elections in Rivers State since 2015, represent various local government areas including Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt City, Opobo/Nkoro, and others.
Led by former coordinator Collins Onunwo, the group expressed their commitment to supporting Fubara in order to uphold the interests of Rivers State and its people. They emphasised their belief that supporting Fubara, whose victory in the elections was confirmed by the Supreme Court, is in the best interest of the state.
During a meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Onunwo assured Governor Fubara of their dedication to the success of his administration’s policies and programmes. The group’s decision to switch allegiance marks a significant loss for Nyesom Wike as more of his supporters align themselves with Fubara’s camp.
“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. That group is his strength,” he said.
“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. In 2012, GDI’s interest was to protect, defend, and promote our brother-in-law, President Goodluck Jonathan, because of our mother and sister, Dame Patience Jonathan; and it yielded good dividends to the state. “Through that struggle, our brother, Chief Nyesom Wike, became governor in 2015; and in 2019, when Abuja politicians said he will not return for a second tenure, we all rallied around him and defended our votes, and he served for eight years.
“Today, Rivers’ interest is to protect our votes that brought in Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Executive Governor of Rivers State in the most credible, fair, and violence-free election. We have come to join millions of Rivers women, youths, elders, and other well-meaning people who insist that we must protect our votes to sustain democracy.
Our concern is that we voted for PDP and Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and we must protect that mandate with all we have”. He further cautioned those fighting against the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie, to retrace their steps, or prepare to face the wrath of Rivers youths, women, and elders.
Also speaking, former Public Relations Officer of GDI ACF, Christian Abu, said that the simple message is that the ex-GDI coordinators just resigned to get simplified, clarifying that GDI has been the vehicle and political structure for the successes recorded in the previous elections in the state.
Abu said, “Getting Simplified means that the strategies, movement, and vehicle that always conveyed electoral successes to the previous administrations have brought the same support to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. “Our support for him today is total, and unwavering.
We are committed and dedicated to his victory and mandate. We had sleepless nights to achieve this victory, and we have come to protect the mandate freely given to Sir Siminalayi Fubara under the platform of the PDP,” he added. At the meeting were the State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Chijioke Ihunwo; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Solomon Abel-Eke; among others.
