Governor Wike Nyesom of Rivers state has challenged Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna state, to hand over the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

Makarfi, in an interview on Channels Television, asked Wike to be subtle in his anger.

The former governor was referring to the various meetings Wike has had with some of the main presidential hopefuls about his next political move.

Governor Rivers, along with other PDP governors, held separate meetings with APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu and Labor and PDP candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar in London last week.

Makarfi warned Wike not to make decisions out of anger and emphasized the need for reconciliation in the match.

Wike reacted to his interview by telling the former Governor of Kaduna to stop talking about him and focus on handing Kaduna state over to the PDP.

He made the comment at the unveiling of the sand-filled area and property layout at Ogbum-Nu-Abali, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Before speaking about the project, Mr. Wike referred to Mr. Makarfi’s interview and challenged him to take it on himself and “see Kaduna fall into the hands of the PDP”.

“I don’t want to hear excuses that they rigged the election. That is what I have told everyone,” he said expanding his requests beyond Kaduna. “In Kano, make sure he wins the PDP. In Niger, make sure the PDP wins, in Jigawa, make sure the PDP wins. If you win. It’s operation delivers your state. Don’t use anyone’s status to add.”

Wike went further in berating politicians who abandon their base and travel to another state to welcome defectors.

Nyesom Wike told the “accused politicians” to go home and work to increase the party’s numerical strength in Rivers State.

The best way to demonstrate the party’s ability to deliver votes, he said, will be to deliver votes from voting units, districts, and the state.

On the project, the governor said his administration has created a new city within the state capital from a mangrove swamp that was once a hideout for criminals and kidnappers.

It boasted of providing water, electricity, and sewage, among others.

Governor Ífeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who conducted the inauguration, described Mr. Wike as an intense leader famous for his legendary ability to execute projects and his relentless crusade for fundamental freedoms as well as the economic interests of the Rivers State people.

The entire Sand Filled Area measures 15.4 hectares, is filled with about 432 cubic meters of sand, and has five exit gates provided: an initially swampy terrain with resistant marine clay and mangrove forests.

The land implies land reclamation, protection of the coast, and construction of a road network with public lighting, drainage, power plants, and reticulation facilities.