Rivers State governor and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who came second at Saturday’s primaries, has accused Southern governors of betraying the power shift agreement.
Wike, who has vowed to remain in the party and support its 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, disclosed that he almost scuttled the PDP primaries at a stage when the rule was breached but had to maintain his calmness.
The governor spoke at a reception in his honour at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following his return from the presidential primary in Abuja.
Also, commendations continued to flow for Atiku on his emergence as PDP standard bearer, yesterday, as the apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze denied saying that it would work against Atiku, adding that it has not taken a position on the issues.
Southern governors’ betrayal
Wike said he was tempted to obstruct the process when an aspirant (Aminu Tambuwal) who had spoken previously was allowed to return to the podium to pronounce his withdrawal, in contravention of the guidelines of the election.
“I have never seen how people can violate procedures and guidelines. Somebody had spoken; it was at that point he was speaking that he would have said I am withdrawing. You don’t call him back,” Wike said.
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“I just said: Look, this our party must not be destroyed.’”
He, however, called on his supporters to remain calm, describing his loss at the PDP presidential primary as the will of God.
“It is God’s will, let us not bother ourselves so much,” Wike said, accusing governors of the Southern region of betrayal.
His words: “Shame to those who will sell out their own. I have never seen a thing like that. No wonder we cannot move on with development.
“Look, a region ganged up. Your own region cannot gang up, you become a tool to be used against the interests of your people and you think you have won. No, you have lost.”
Governor Wike said though he did not clinch the PDP presidential ticket, he believes, just like his supporters, that his performance has raised the political profile of Rivers State and other minority groups in Nigeria.
“In the political history of this country, you can count on us. We are not push-overs,” the former Minister of State for Education, said.
Wike spoke as fresh details of how top northern military and political leaders teamed up to secure the ticket for Atiku emerged, last night just as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar embarked on fence-mending visits to some of his opponents, pleading for their support.
Among those Atiku visited yesterday were Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; former Kwara State Governor and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
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