Ahead of the 2023 elections, Governor Nyesom Wike says he has accepted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, but will never ever accept party national chairman, Sen Iyorcha Ayu to remain in office before the elections.
Wike who asserted this while hosting Cross River State PDP governorship and all state and national assembly candidates along with local government chairmen of his private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Wednesday night, also said genuine efforts to amicably resolve the impasse in the PDP were being frustrated by rent-seekers in the party.
Addressing his guests with South-South National Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, present, Wike fingered perceived “hyenas and rent seekers,” as remaining obstinate and averse to justice, fairness and equity in the party.
He said, “We’ve finished presidential primaries. We have a presidential candidate. Is Wike saying remove the presidential candidate? Is Wike saying remove the vice presidential candidate? So, what are you begging me for?
“All I am saying, will continue to say is you have taken president, give us national chairman. Nobody wants to speak the truth. If I am saying remove the presidential candidate, remove vice presidential candidate, then you will say why is he doing this.”
“He (Ayu) said, if the presidential candidate comes from the north, he will resign, which means he has had this in mind. Now, the thing has come to reality, now resign, he says no. And people are saying go and talk to Wike.
“I’ve accepted the presidential candidate, accepted the vice presidential candidate, what’s the problem again. You, fulfil your part. Let the South have something, that is all I’m preaching. You cannot have presidential candidate, national chairman, director general of the campaign.”
The governor described as hypocritical, PDP members criticising APC Muslim/Muslim ticket while supporting a particular region of the country to retain the presidency for another eight years.
“This is period the power game is being played. If you don’t have it now, forget it. If anybody tells you, let Ayu resign after election is conducted, then you are a foolish person. This is the time decision is being made.
“This is the time the presidential candidate, national chairman and the leader of campaign will sit, when election is won in February, before the president is sworn in, decisions would have been made.”
In gratitude to his Cross Rivers visitors he said, Wike said, “If there is nothing I achieved, I can go home and sleep that I won Cross River State. Not only did I win, I won very well. I feel so happy and that tells you of people who have character of steadfastness. People who will never be pushed around for whatever it is.
“People who believe in the principles of life, people who believe in fairness, justice and equity. This visit will spur me the more to give you support. I am not coming to Cross River to vote, but you are my friends. I have a right to support you.”
Cross River PDP governorship candidate, Sen Sandy Onor, who led the delegation, said Governor Wike remains such a trail blazer for justice, fairness and equity that no living person in the contemporary history of the PDP has made more sacrifice for the party than Wike.
Onor commended governor Wike for his steadfast support to the party in Cross River, adding that the intent of the visit was to express their profound gratitude for his unparalleled benevolence.
