The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2019 elections in Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Peter Obi, have congratulated the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on his re-election.
Wike won the election with 886,264 votes, while Biokpomabo Awara of the African Alliance Congress, who came second, scored 173,859 votes.
Abubakar in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja described Wike’s victory as hard earned re-election.
He said: “It gives me much pleasure to see a political force for good, such as yourself, overcome the anti-democratic forces of dictatorship and oppression.
“The PDP is blessed to have a political gladiator such as yourself on our side.
“I am favoured to count you, Governor Wike, as my friend and brother, and Rivers as my second home.”
Abubakar said as Wike was savoured by men of goodwill all over Nigeria, he was sure that the governor would continue the pattern of good works for which he had become known.
He said: “Nigeria needs men like you. Men who can remain firm, unbowed and resolute in the face of trying times.
“You have proved that you have character under trial, and not just when the going is good.
“Such refinement will stand you in good stead as, by the grace of God, you finish the good work you have started in Rivers.”
On his part, Obi, in a statement by his Media Office, said all lovers of democracy must salute the resilience of the people of Rivers State, who stood in defence of their votes.
He said the people would not have been bigoted to Wike if he had not made appreciable impact in their lives through delivery of good governance.
He advised Wike to remain focused on the delivery of democracy dividends to his people and not get distracted by the needless bickering and provocation that greeted the election.
The former Anambra State governor said the people of Rivers State didn’t need to go through the stress given the outstanding performance of their governor in the last four years.