Several Andoni indigenes as well as members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while felicitating with the new speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani, extols the leadership of the incumbent governor, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, for giving Andoni people the opportunity to serve the State in the capacity of a speaker of the State Assembly and third in ranking in the State.
Thanking God for the opportunity and appreciating His Excellency, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Wike for the gesture and honour done the Andoni-people, the immediate past deputy governor, His Excellency, Engr. Tele Renner Ikuru who could not hide his feelings busted into singing in appreciation to the PDP’s victory in the governorship poll, adding that God has put his enemies to shame.
Ikuru recalled how he was labeled the Jonah in APC’s ship and that by his defection, APC would have won elections in Andoni as they (APC members) organized thanksgiving at Ngo town.
According to Ikuru, contrary to APC blind expectations, the APC failed the elections in the LGA and State, giving all the reason to thank God.
He noted that though it was not a day for too long speeches, Andoni LGA came third after Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City which respectively emerged first and second.
Speaking at a reception held in honour of the new speaker of the State Assembly at the Speaker’s Guest House, a Senior Stakeholder of the PDP from Andoni and Rivers representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Dr. Ephraim Sobere Etete-Owoh eulogies governor Nyesom Wike for finding Andoni worthy to lead the State Assembly, noting that Andoni is indeed progressing politically and pledged their commitment in giving total support to the Wike’s administration and PDP in general.
The PDP big-weight, NDDC Commissioner and former Chairman of the LGSC who could not hide his feelings of joy also thanked the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus for leading Andoni to the path of history, said that acquiring the speakership of the Assembly after the tenure of a deputy governor was not in anyway a set back.
He said, the clarification became necessary as some may thought otherwise, and explained that speakership is the head of an arm of the tripod of governance.
On his part, another senior stakeholder in the State, Chief Dr. Silas Eneyo has said that while the incumbent governor has made history again for the Andoni people, the gesture demands further efforts by the people to support his administration to succeed.
According to the erudite medical professional, the opportunity giving to the Andonis is a mile stone and it requires all hands to be on deck to develop the State, while calling on the new speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani to join forces with the governor to develop the State and Andoni Local Government as well.
At the sideline of the event, others who spoke to The Newswriter expressed optimism that Wike’s administration would strengthen democracy in Nigeria and Rivers State in particular, revealing that with the immediate opening of the State Judiciary and Legislative Chambers, the state was set for robust administration to strive.
One of those who spoke to this weekly, Chief (Hon.) Uwikor J. H Offong, a staunch member of the PDP in Andoni, maintained that with Ibani as Speaker of the House and Chief Barr. Wike at the helm of affairs, the State would indeed be a hub of investments, while thanking the governor for choosing their son for the lofty assignment, assuring that he is capable and equal to the task bestowed on him.
Chief Offong, however, called on the speaker to keep to his promise of returning the good gesture and honour to the people and congratulated him on his election for the third term as well as speaker of the legislative arm of government.
The youths who are not left out in appreciating God for another gesture for the Andoni people also beacon on the speaker to double and replicate his effort on first tenure in his present service term.
