Rivers people will continue to work for the unity of Nigeria, Wike tells Sultan of Sokoto
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has stated that the people of Rivers State believed in the unity of Nigeria and would continue to work hard for the country to stay united.
The governor stated this at the Palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III when he led a high powered delegation of top political leaders and first class Traditional Rulers of the state on a sallah visit.
A press statement from the office of the governor signed by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, stated that the visit was in furtherance of the quest to promote the unity of the country.
In the statement, Governor Wike who, with his entourage, were received earlier at the Sokoto International Airport by the Sultan and the State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal said: “Rivers State believes in the oneness of this country. We believe in the unity of the country and we will do everything possible to preach the unity of Nigeria.
“All countries have one challenge or the other, but what is important is dialogue to find ways to resolve those challenges. For the unity of Nigeria, there is no going back,” he continued.
He said that irrespective of religious differences, all Nigerians must ensure that they worked for the unity of the country and described the Sultan as a Traditional Ruler who believed and worked for the unity of Nigeria.
Governor Wike who was also given a Royal welcome in the Sultan’s palace thanked the Sultan for participating in the Rivers Golden Jubilee and always supporting Rivers State.
Responding, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Council of Islamic Affairs, called for dialogue in the resolutions of the challenges facing the nation.
He called on elder statesmen across the country to call their people to order for the country to live in peace and attract development.
The Sultan said: “We shall continue to work for the unity of this country. This shows that we are one family in Nigeria. We serve our creator by serving humanity.”
Speaking further, he said: “I was very pleased to see what is going on in Rivers State in terms of construction and projects.”
While urging Governor Wike to sustain his developmental projects, he charged political leaders to remain committed to projects delivery as that would attract the goodwill of the people. He said leaders who worked for their people would always be defended by their constituents.
In his remarks, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal described the visit as historic and relevant to the unity of the country saying: “Governor Wike is here to express that we are all believers in the unity of this country.”
Governor Wike was accompanied for the Sallah visit by former Rivers State Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, former NBA President, Chief Onueze Okocha, former Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, Federal Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Evangelist Hope Ikiriko, Mr. Sokipiri Graham-Douglas, Prince Emma Anyanwu, and former Attorney-General of Rivers State, Hon. Frank Ohwor.
Also on Governor Wike’s entourage were three traditional rulers: Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Jaja, Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Gbobo Disrael Bob-Manuel, and the Oda of Abua, King Kalley Obunge, according to the statement.
