Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that the G-5 governors will not support any candidate including his PDP member who believes that no other tribe except the North will rule the country as President, Africa Update can authoritatively report.
Speaking on Saturday, at the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party Campaign flag-off that held at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Wike said “Here in Rivers let the heaven hear me today, let the earth hear me today, I will not support anybody who says that no other person from any ethnic group can become President. I will not do it.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us. Whether you are from the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Itshekiri etc everybody is entitled to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They go to National Television and tell everybody do not vote for yoruba, do not vote for the Igbo, he did not mention where I come from, which means I come from nowhere, but I come from somewhere.
“I exist. God has never made a mistake, God is the one who says where we should come from. This has nothing to do with party, but it has to do with identity. By the grace of God I come from somewhere and we must show that we come from somewhere. If somebody say you do not exist, say you exist.”
Wike stated further that the G5 Governors were hurt by the refusal of the party’s leadership to ask the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu to step down for a Southerner to assume the party’s leadership position, insisting on equity, fairness and justice in the party structure.
Wike stressed that Ayu collected bribe of N1billion in Lagos, saying that he would only expose evil meted to the party faithful. Wike said he was ready to challenge anyone in court on his claims that Ayu was very corrupt and lacks the integrity to continue to lead the party.
His words: “What you must do to chase away your opponent is operation show your report card. Do we have report cards? Have we done well? Mr President said we have done well and if the President says we have done well, who are these people?
“Nobody will lead me to a campaign by a man who is corrupt. I have challenged Ayu, Ayu you are corrupt and you cannot lead me to any campaign. I will not, Rivers state will not, whether they like it or not, Ayu can not lead us to campaign. Ayu is corrupt. I am sorry to say to the Benue Governor, if I have insulted you, forgive me. Rivers people are hurt.
“I went to Benue state. Ayu, you have not stayed one year in office and you are fighting corruption, how do you fight corruption? I ask you, you took N1billion, I told you, you took N100billion, I told you you took the money that we realized from the primaries.
“Ayu, sue me!. You are buying University in Benue state and you have not stayed one year in office, assuming you enter office what will you do? You cannot fight Rivers State and go free. You cannot fight Nigeria and go free. We will support when your hands are clean. It does not matter all the media you go to insult me. If you like, insult us as you want, the truth must be told”.
The governors in the camp of Governor Wike have insisted that Ayu will not lead the party’s campaign in their various states, alleging that Ayu is corrupt.
On his part, Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, said the PDP has not been able to deploy conflict resolution mechanism to resolve conflicts which has led to the current situation in the party. He urged Rivers people to work with Governor Wike and at the right time, the G5 Governors will decide on who to support for the betterment of Nigerians.
He said they are ready to rescue Nigeria through a process hinged on justice, fairness and equity. While Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said he was in the state to support the Governorship candidate of the party, Siminalayi Fubara, who will consolidate on the gains recorded by the Nyesom Wike led administration.
Abia State Governor, Ikpeazu Okezie, admonished Rivers people to key into the SIM project aimed at actualizing the Governorship ambition of Fubara. His words: “If you no get SIM card, you no go get network.”
The State Chairman of the party, Desmond Akawor, the Director General of the State Campaign Council, Felix Obuah, Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde and his predecessor Ayodele Fayose, also gave goodwill messages at the campaign flag off to unveil the party’s Governorship candidate and Candidates for National Assembly.
The symbolic handing over of party flags to the candidates was performed by the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja.
Arapaja, who presented the party’s flags to PDP governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara, said the party will give 100% support to all candidates from Rivers.
