Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, claims that some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors teamed up with vested interest organizations to derail southern Nigeria’s bid to produce the country’s next president.
He said that the governors of Southern Nigeria agreed that the presidency should be given to the region, and that he did not break that agreement.
The Rivers State governor explained himself at a magnificent reception hosted by Rivers residents in Port Harcourt on Monday to welcome him back from Abuja following the PDP presidential primary.
Governor Wike called some of those who were part of the pact’s failure to stick to the deal when it mattered “shameful.” He accused them of betraying him and thwarted their joint efforts to clinch the PDP presidential nomination for the South.
“I contested in an election(primary)based on the principle and agreement with all Southern governors and leaders of the South that presidency should go to the South this period.
“We have done our part. We never betrayed anybody because it is not in our blood to betray. But it is a shame to those people, some of the governors from the South, they are the people that were used to sabotage our course.”
Governor Wike said it was distressing that certain governors in the South might abandon the collective interests of the people they profess to represent due to their excessive ambition.
“If you look at a ganged-up region, then you, your own region, cannot gang up.” You become tools to be used against your people’s interests, and while you think you’ve won, you’ve actually lost. You’ll be slaves for the rest of your lives. You don’t have to trouble yourself, Rivers folks. PDP requires our assistance. They should wait if they declare they don’t need us.”
The governor explained that he was propelled into the race to offer service and advance the interest of Nigeria. In the process, he was confronted by a few individuals who wanted somebody they will control and he declined to be such puppet.
“The winner (of the ticket) also saw it. They underrated us, but now, they will not underrate us again. We have all it takes to do whatever we want to do. It is a matter of you being firm, it is a matter of you being hopeful. There is nobody that is born greater than us in this country, therefore, we cannot answer second class citizen. We can’t.
“We just used this one to tell them that enough is enough. We made them not to sleep. We made them not to eat. We made all of them from wherever they said they come from to know that there is somebody who can take them on. This country does not belong to one particular zone. If people are afraid of talking it is their business. I cannot be a second class citizen in my country.”
“Some of them, their in-laws are governors in the ruling party, but they want to interfere in what happens in PDP. Some of them their brothers are governors in the ruling party and they want to interfere in PDP”
Governor Wike stated that now that the presidential primary is done and he has pledged to work for whoever wins, Rivers State will work to elect the PDP and all of its candidates in the general election of 2023.
The governor recalled that in 2019, despite the failure of the man he backed to win the ticket, Rivers State handed the All Progressives Congress (PDP) large votes and refused to negotiate with them for a 25% vote share.
“In 2019, I was the only governor from the South-South who never negotiated with the present government. They came, I said no, I was not going to be party to that. And that is why APC never had 25 percent in this State (Rivers). But, all the other States in the South-South, the president got 35 percent to 40 percent. I said I was not going to sit down with them and negotiate.”
Governor Wike stated that now that the presidential primary is done and he has pledged to work for whoever wins, Rivers State will work to elect the PDP and all of its candidates in the general election of 2023.
The governor recalled that in 2019, despite the failure of the man he backed to win the ticket, Rivers State handed the All Progressives Congress (PDP) large votes and refused to negotiate with them for a 25% vote share.
Governor Wike’s resiliency was praised by PDP Rivers State Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, who said that the entire state and the Niger Delta are grateful that he spoke for them.
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze O.C.J Okocha, (SAN), speaking on behalf of Rivers elders, said Governor Wike entered the PDP presidential primaries because he wanted to serve the country and put the party back to power in Nigeria.
“You have done us proud. You’ve done Rivers State proud. You’ve done the country, the teeming masses of those who are yearning for capable leadership, you’ve done them proud. And they will continue to believe in you, they will continue to place their hope in you.”
While speaking on behalf of Rivers’ youths, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike, Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, said Governor Wike has proved that Rivers State, and indeed the Niger Delta, cannot be overlooked in Nigeria’s political equation.
“A Rivers man has dared and shook the foundation of Nigeria. Dike Oha (Ikwerre), you have given them restless night. You have made them change their political equation night upon night. You have made them in Abuja and the entire northern, southern, western, all part of Nigeria realise that a leader has emerged from Rivers State and a leader has emerged from Niger Delta.”
Governor Wike has demonstrated capacity despite the conspiracy against him, according to Port Harcourt council chairman Hon. Allwell Ihunda and Dr. Juliet Berwari, who spoke on behalf of all council chairmen and women, respectively.
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