2023: Tinubu’s Choice Was Lifeline for Rivers, Alabraba – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

The Chairman of the Rivers Elders Council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, has declared that the decision of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, “kept Rivers State afloat.”
Alabraba spoke on Tuesday in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, during Wike’s thank-you visit to the area.
The elder statesman described Wike as a towering figure in Nigeria’s contemporary politics, praising his pragmatic approach, courage, and political foresight.
According to him, Wike took two far-reaching decisions in 2023 that reshaped Rivers State’s political trajectory, one of which was ensuring that the governorship was ceded to the Ijaw ethnic nationality after 24 years.
“When you were concluding your tenure, your thoughts were for Rivers State. You took two critical decisions. First, you sacrificed everything, fought many battles, and enthroned a successor from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, a crown that eluded the Ijaw people for 24 years,” Alabraba said.
He described the perceived lack of appreciation from Governor Siminalayi Fubara as an “aberration,” insisting that the Ijaw people were not known for ingratitude.
“What we are seeing in Rivers State today is an aberration. The Ijaw, as rightly said by others, are not ungrateful people,” he added.
Alabraba said the second major decision taken by Wike was aligning Rivers State with the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu in 2023, despite retaining other elective positions within his party. “That singular decision is what has kept Rivers State afloat today,” he stressed.
He assured Wike of the continued support of Rivers people, saying they already knew their political direction ahead of the 2027 elections. “Let me assure you, Rivers people know where to go. With Wike, 2027 under the Renewed Hope agenda is the way to go,” he said.
Responding, Wike thanked the people for standing by him in 2023, despite the uncertainties surrounding Tinubu’s candidacy at the time.
On the political situation in Rivers State, the former governor said he would correct the mistake he made in 2023, while openly declaring support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“Here, we have shut the door. No other person other than Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike declared.
Toyin Adebayo is dedicated professional with over a decade experience of covering news and current events. My background lies in gathering and analyzing facts about newsworthy events through stories, features, interview, investigation, and observation. My reports have featured in many National Dailies and currently with INDEPENDENT Newspaper. Toyin holds a BA Ed in English Education, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, National Association of Women Journalist. Married with kids.

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