Tobias Sylvester
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has revealed why he will not campaign for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Nyesom Wike Says He Won’t Campaign For Atiku Abubakar
The governor spoke on Monday during the inauguration of the Rivers PDP campaign council in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
According to him, Atiku appointed some PDP members he described as “enemies of Rivers” into his campaign council without his (Wike) contribution.
Wike set the reason Atiku did not include him in his campaign team was because he doesn’t want him and Rivers people to campaign for him.
He said, “The presidential candidate entered Rivers state and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them. They don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself on them?
“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers state and go and choose those who are enemies of the state, without the contribution from us.
“So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the state — the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.
“Politics is a game of interest. If nobody accommodates the interest of Rivers state, then we have nothing to do with such people. If you say that you have no interest in Rivers state, Rivers state will not have your own interest. It is only those who like us that we will like.
“I have told people who care. Rivers State has voted PDP since 1999. Of this support we have given since 1999 till now, can you mention one thing that we have gotten in this state? Can you mention one road that we have gotten? All they care about is to use Rivers state to bring votes. After votes, you push us aside. That will not happen again.”
Speaking to the PDP campaign council, the governor told the members to have a different mindset because the strategies to be adopted for the 2023 elections would differ from what they are used to.
Governor Nyesom Wike’s comments amid crisis in the party over his call for Iyorchia Ayu to step down as PDP national chairman.
