Former governor, Nyesom Wike, has created more confidence around his successor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, by letting everyone know that the new governor is now the leader.
Wike spoke when his kinsmen in Obio/Akpor organized a welcome reception for him and conferred chieftaincy titles on his and his wife.
At the ceremony, Gov Fubara paid loyalty and said he was still going to learn from the master.
In response, Chief Wike assured that he and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now have the governor as their leader and will definitely respect his leadership and they will support him to succeed.
In his speech, Wike, thanked the people of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for the honour done him and not abandoning him in his political career.
Wike was conferred with the title of Okwurume 1 of Obio/Akpor, and expressed delight over the rousing welcome that emboldened his feeling of nativity as being of Ikwerre stock and an Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area.
The former governor recalled incidents of betrayal by some of his political associates in Port Harcourt and Ikwerre Local Government Areas during the 2023 general election. He however, commended the people of Obio-Akpor for their steadiness.
But despite such betrayal, Wike maintained that he did not sell out the interest of Rivers State for portage like others did, and he feels so satisfied that the southern presidency that he and his team supported was achieved.
Chief Wike said with the challenges of transition and political betrayal now over, there is now a successor on the saddle.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator John Azuta Mbata, said the people organised the reception for an illustrious son who created so much national impact, flying the Ikwerre nationality flag, and making them proud.
