Yenagoa—Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri and his Rivers State counterpart, Chief Nyesom Wike, have said the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) producing the President of Nigeria in 2023 is dependant on the party’s unity.
The duo spoke on Monday when Wike visited Diri at the Government House in Yenagoa.
The Bayelsa governor said the PDP must do everything to ensure it wins the 2023 Presidential election, adding that the party must unite to become victorious come 2023.
Diri, who described the presidency as a sacred office, said the party has been repositioned to ensure it wins the presidency in the 2023 general election.
Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to Diri in a statement, quoted him as commending Wike for demonstrating good governance.
He stated that states in the Niger Delta region needed to unite to make progress.
Diri reemphasized the need for more consultations between him and his Rivers counterpart towards creating an entente relationship between the two states.
He also applauded Wike for his role in repositioning the PDP, describing him as a committed party man.
His words, “The presidency is one sacred office and we must do everything to protect it and ensure that our party clinches victory at the 2023 general polls.
“The number one thing for our party is our unity. The second is who becomes president. We have a capable national chairman that can steer us back to power come 2023.
“Bayelsa and Rivers states are brothers and sisters historically and culturally and if anyone is trying to divide us, we must come against them.
“I call on Ijaw leaders to come together and resolve whatever issues we may have amicably. Within a family, we will always have issues but that should not remove our brotherliness.”
Responding, Wike stated that he is confident that the PDP will produce the next president of Nigeria.
He said Nigerians were waiting for the party to rescue them from the current situation in the country, stressing that leaders and members of the party cannot afford to miss this opportunity.
Wike emphasized the need for unity of purpose between the two states and the entire PDP, adding that without a united front success would be elusive.
The Governor lauded his Bayelsa counterpart for his developmental efforts and commitment to the party and urged the people of the state to continue to support him.
“Today, I came to let everybody know that Senator Douye Diri is one of the governors I can tell you has shown commitment even though he is new and he believes in the development of his state. I am not someone that will come and say what is not correct.
“I have also come to tell him that everybody must work together to make the PDP united because without party there cannot be a presidential candidate. Let us all unite.
“Nigerians are waiting for PDP and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. As governors, we must work together.
“Anybody can be a presidential candidate but if we are not united it cannot be possible,” Wike said.
Wike was accompanied on the visit by former Rivers state governor, Chief Celestine Omehia, two former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara and Prince Chibudom Nwuche as well as a former Minister of Transport, Chief Abiye Sekibo.
