Loyalists, associates, and friends of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, have concluded arrangements to celebrate his birthday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Friday.
The loyalists were said to be planning to use the occasion to make a strong statement on what they referred to as Wike’s political leadership of Rivers amidst the ongoing crisis in the state.
Our correspondent gathered that new groups and movements would be on parade on Friday at different venues across the state to celebrate the birthday of the former Rivers State Governor.
Already, a new political movement called ‘NEW Associates’, coined from the first letters of the minister’s names, Nyesom, Ezenwo Wike, is said to be leading preparations for the celebrations.
Other groups such as ‘Wikematic Youths’, Wikematic Women, and Rivers Ijaw Progressive Congress, among others, are also reportedly mobilising and galvanising support for the event.
It was learnt that Wike’s political associates, loyalists, and friends within and outside the country would fly into Rivers to identify with the programme aimed at reiterating their support for the FCT Minister as the political leader of the state.
Convener of the ‘New Associates’, Senator George Sekibo, said numerous supporters of the minister were excitedly waiting to mark the day.
Sekibo, a former Senator who represented Rivers East in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly said a public lecture titled, “Pragmatic Strides of a Visionary Leader and Contemporary Issues of Society” would herald the celebration.
He said the day would also be used to unveil the footprints of the minister in various political positions he had occupied from the state to the national level, describing him as an indispensable leader.
Sekibo identified the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as the Special Guest of Honour; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Onueze Okocha as the Special Guest of Honour, and a Guest Lecturer as Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
He said, “The forthcoming birthday is unique in the sense that despite all efforts of the betrayers, the minister has been able to keep our political family in Rivers intact. He remains the ‘indisputable’ leader of Rivers politics.
“He has survived all the machinations of the devil and our leader by the grace of God continues to wax strong. We are calling on the numerous supporters of our leader to attend the event.”
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