10th House Speaker: Wike pledges support for Abbas, Kalu

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has promised his total support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidates for Speaker and deputy speaker of the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Abbas Tajuddeen (APC Kaduna) and Benjamin Kalu (APC Abia) respectively.

According to a statement from the Abbas campaign media team, the governor made the promise when he received the APC consensus candidates alongside the leadership of Joint Task-10th Assembly led by Usman Bello Kumo (APC Gombe) in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Wike said he would work to make sure that they emerge victorious, adding that 12 members-elect out of 13 from Rivers State are with Abbas and Kalu 100 percent.

He expressed hope that the 2015 scenario where members that rebelled against the APC emerged as leaders of the National Assembly would not be repeated because the majority of the members-elect from the party and the opposition are with them.

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“I want to say here that I am with you fully. You know I do my things in the open. When Chinda told me that you’re coming here, I said there was no need because I am with you fully.

“All our members are with you, except one, who is doing something else. 2015 won’t repeat itself. Let me tell you, I’ll leave the office on Monday, and once I leave, we’ll start the campaign fully.

“I urge all of you to support Abbas. Don’t support him in the day and do something else at night. You should support him fully,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the APC consensus candidate, Abbas Tajuddeen, said they visited the governor to seek his support because of his progressive ideals and support for the party.

He commended the governor for his boldness in expressing his views and strong support for the president-elect despite being from the opposition.

On his part, the co-chairman, Joint Task-10th Assembly, Usman Bello Kumo, said their visit was the confirmation of their ideals as a group that cuts across parties.