RIVERS PDP: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, accused some PDP elders in his the state of ganging up against him, noting that they are aggrieved because they failed to grab the PDP governorship ticket in the last state PDP governorship primary election.
Governor Wike said that some of them indicated interest to fly the party’s flag but failed, then went to mobilise in Abuja to ensure that he did not emerge the running mate of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.
Basic Facts
- Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has alleged a gang up against him by PDP leaders in the state.
- Governor Wike said those that failed in the state governorship primaries are behind the gang up.
What We Know
In a statement made by Governor Nyesom Wike at the birthday celebration of former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Dr. Peter Odili in Port Harcourt, accused PDP leaders of a gang up against him.
This accusation was contained in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to Clariform and newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to Wike, the elders signed a document that they would abide by the outcome of the governorship primary.
Wike regrets that since they were not successful, they turned around to allege that he was pursuing a third term bid.
Notable Quotes
In the statement through his aid, Governor Wike said, “On my last birthday, 12midnight, one of our elders called me that they want to see me. They came to me and said they came to wish me happy birthday.”
“Then, they presented me a letter that I should run for President. All of them, including Dr. Abiye (Sekibo) signed the document.”
“I said ‘okay, you people too should go and give me someone who will be governor after me.’ They all sat there, looking left and right.”
“I asked them, ‘those of you who are interested to be governor should raise your hands.’ Everybody raised his hand. One person didn’t raise his hand, Senator Bari Mpigi.”
“I asked why he was not interested, he replied, ‘sir, let me hold what God has given me. I don’t want to lose the two.”
Governor Wike further said:
“Some persons don’t know the history. They go and tell all kinds of story. But the truth is this: all of them (elders) signed the document prepared by O.C.J. Okocha that whoever I will bring, they will abide to it.”
“But now, they went to Abuja, that I must not be vice president. I also read yesterday when I was in Paris, one of them saying that I told him that if they do to me what they did to Dr. Odili, that I will collapse the system.”
“I am not an ungrateful person and I will never be ungrateful in my life. What is important is that I have done well as a governor. I am happy and I am leaving office a happy man.”
Catch-up
Recall that Governor Wike has consistently been in the news since May, when he lost the PDP presidential primaries to Atiku Abubakar.
Although a committee set up by the PDP flagbearer had suggested Wike as one of the choice for his running mate, Atiku opted for Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Atiku’s choice has created a “love lost between his camp and Wike’s camp. This crisis in the PDP and the continuously rising popularity of Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi threatens Atiku’s chance at the polls next February.
Takeaway
The development in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in no small way throws light into what happens within our political parties. How democratic are the parties in their internal affairs? What mechanism determines who wins at the so-called primary elections?
Indeed, there is a need for a redefinition of democracy within parties in Nigeria. Perhaps, it’s only when those who fly party flags are a true reflection of the majority of the party men will we see internal democracy and reduction in the wave of defections that greets every primary election in Nigeria, especially since the start of the 4th republic in 1999.
In any case, there are some people who happy with the events going on in the PDP, especially those who are set to benefit directly from it. The ruling APC for instance have been inching closer to Wike since the disagreements with the PDP flagbearer.
Recently, governor Wike has invited and hosted two prominent members of the APC for the commissioning of projects in Rivers State.
The current governor of Lagos state – Governor Sanwo Olu, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who are both members of the APC have recently commissioned Governor Wike`s projects.
