Nigeria now has a viable opposition, say Wike, Fayose

•‘Judgment victory for democracy, rule of law’
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti counterpart, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday said the ruling has paved way for a viable opposition in the country.

Reacting to the development, Wike enthused that the PDP would emerge from the crisis stronger, as according to him, all stakeholders will work hard to rebuild the party.

“This judgment shows that there will be opposition in Nigeria. I am very happy. Rivers people are very happy because we have no other party aside the PDP,” he said.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “With today’s (yesterday) judgment, the PDP can now play its role as an opposition party and prepare to take over power in 2019.”

He called on genuine members of the party to come together for its repositioning, repackaging and strengthening.

Fayose, who maintained there would be no victor and no vanquished, said: “The ultimate winner is democracy which cannot survive without a virile opposition and the entire people of Nigeria who are already yearning for a return of the PDP, having been short-changed by the APC.”

He hailed the judiciary for rising to the occasion at a time the whole nation was almost turning to a one-party state.
While congratulating all members and supporters for standing firm with the party, Fayose promised that all leaders would join hands to channel a new and enduring course for the PDP and prepare it for the eventual take-over of power in 2019.

Also yesterday, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Akwa Ibom stakeholders described the judgment as a victory for democracy and rule of law.
In a statement in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, Okowa lauded the ruling by the five-man panel led by Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

According to the spokesperson of the party in the state, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the victory does not belong to any of the factional leaders, as there is ‘no victor and no vanquished’.

Also speaking, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, said the victory would go a long way towards setting the tone for the rebuilding process in the party and place it in good stead for the 2019 general elections.