Eleven Ward Coordinators of the Grassroots Development Initiatives (GDI) in Ahoada-East on Wednesday in Port Harcourt resigned their membership in the group, joining in the train with many supporters trooping to Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s political family.
This switch of loyalty by the 11 ward coordinators is coming barely 18 days after 12 Local Government Area Coordinators of the GDI, in a surprised move, dumped Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT, and pledged unalloyed support and loyalty to Fubara’s administration.
Ahoada East, from which the latest 11 ward coordinators hail, is the local government area of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie, and has a total of 13 electoral wards.
The 11 GDI Coordinators were in Government House on a solidarity visit, saying that they had realised that they had been deceived and misled in the past few months and decided to retrace their steps and join the mass of Rivers people to defend and protect their votes and mandate freely given to Governor Fubara.
The coordinators, who were received by the Chief of Staff, Dr Edison Ehie, pledged to mobilise all their supporters and associates to give the state government the necessary support and encouragement to deliver good governance and sustainable development to the Rivers people.
They said that having watched the actions and policy direction of the governor, they have come to the realisation that remaining on the fence while detractors undermine the government was not in the good interest of the state.
The coordinators, who were accompanied by the former LGA Coordinator of GDI, Hon. Christian Abu, and Ahoada East LGA Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Handsome Ekelechi Agile, said that they are resolute in their decision to join millions of well-meaning Rivers people who have solidified their membership in the SIMplified Movement to protect and defend the Governor in the face of unwarranted attacks and a campaign of calumny.
They said that with their movement to the SIMplified Family, the GDI structure in Ahoada East has completely collapsed.
While declaring their total support and loyalty to Gov. Fubara, they warned that anybody fighting the Governor and the Chief of Staff would incur the wrath of the land.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff of Government House, Hon. Edison Ehie, assured them of the government’s commitment to the well-being of all Rivers people and the consolidation of the gains of the infrastructure revolution of the administration.
He told them that the government was operating an open-door policy and running an inclusive administration, and he assured them that every Rivers man and woman would be touched positively by the actions, policies, and programmes of the government.
The Grassroots Development Initiatives, or GDI, is the political platform predominantly populated by youths, which Wike formed and sponsored as his backbone for all his election victories throughout his 8-year reign as governor of Rivers State.
The GDI Coordinators included Chinwe Okorji representing Ward 1; Henry Uhor for Ward 2; Hon. Muzan Otuza of Ward 3; Hon. Elvis Ishikaku representing Ward 4; and Hon. Johnson Monday of Ward 5.
Others are Mr Evidence Adi for Ward 6; Emmanuel Ochu of Ward 7;
Hon. Fidelis Ikebuluwa is representing Ward 8; Martins Odoi is representing Ward 9; Hon. Mackson Ekpeye is representing Ward 10; and Hon. Ambrose Ile is representing Ward 12.
With this development, the leadership of GDI at the ward and LG levels has now dumped the group to join the governor in efforts to transform the state.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Source: