Tony John, Port Harcourt

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the country is currently in crisis, insisting that the magnitude of crisis in Nigeria now has never been witnessed in the nation’s history.

This was even as thousands of Rivers women in the state have endorsed the governor for a second term.

Also, Governor Wike has declared that supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) to form the Federal Government in 2019, is like digging the nation’s grave, as the country is ‘already dead’ since APC gained control in 2015.

The governor made the statement, on Thursday, while addressing Rivers women, who stormed the Government House Port Harcourt in thousands, to endorse him for the second term.

Governor Wike said that Nigerians, irrespective of gender, have a solemn responsibility of ending the failed APC Federal Government in 2019.

He said that the nationwide breakdown of security, especially in APC states, exemplified the failure of the incumbent administration to productively manage national resources.

In his words, “Nigeria is in crisis. Never in the history of this country have we had crisis of this magnitude. Rather than resolve developmental challenges, they continue to give excuses for their failure.

“We must come together in 2019 to protect our votes. Supporting APC is like digging our graves. The country is already dead under their control. Everyday, the country is moving from one problem to another.”

The governor also alleged that APC leaders from the state took pride in de-marketing and destroying the economy of Rivers State for political reasons.

He charged Rivers women to jealously protect their permanent voters’ cards as that is the only weapon to uproot the APC in 2019.

Governor Wike also announced a business development scheme worth N500 million for Rivers Women in 2018.

According to him, the fund would be domiciled at the State Microfinance Bank and managed by the Ministry of Women Affairs.

He said the empowerment scheme will assist the women develop small scale businesses, stating that the Women Development Centre will be completed in 2018.

Earlier, the women declared that they would follow their endorsement with massive rural and urban mobilisation of all groups to vote overwhelmingly for him in 2019.

They staged solidarity marched from Mile One to Government House, Port Harcourt, celebrating the governor and creating awareness on his achievements.

The women were drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, with each highlighting the projects executed by Governor Wike in their respective councils.

In a solidarity message, former Rivers State Chairman of the Federation of Female Lawyers, Mrs. Florence Amiesimaka, said Governor Wike has made Rivers people proud through development projects.

She assured the governor that the women would stand with him all through the electioneering period up to his re-election.

Spokesperson for Rivers South-East women, Mrs. Charity Demua, declared that the women have experienced good governance under the leadership of Governor Wike, saying that they would reciprocate this by voting for his re-election.

Mrs. Macetelli of Rivers West and Mrs. Carol John of Rivers East stated that the infrastructural development had impacted positively on the lives of women and their businesses.

The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Ukel Oyaghiri, also lauded Governor Wike for his commitment to the welfare of Rivers Women.

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of gifts by the women to the governor.