Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has reacted to the controversial statements made by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Wike Reacts To Atiku’s Statements
Wike said the PDP owes Nigerians an explanation and an apology following the statements.
Kanyi Daily reported that Atiku had on Sunday in Kaduna asserted that the north does not need Yoruba or Igbo candidates when it comes to the presidency, adding that the only candidate worthy of the coveted seat is him alone.
“I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs is somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country.
“This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin,” Atiku opined.
Reacting to the comments, which have continued to generate heated arguments, Wike noted that while he doubts the possibility of Atiku making such a sensational statement at this critical time of the Nation’s history, such posture would justify his fight for equity, justice, and fairness in the PDP.
The Rivers governor said the party must urgently address the issue and appeal to Nigerians lest the people stop rallying behind the PDP and begin to see the party as one where justice and equity do not abound.
Wike also challenged the National Chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu on his defence of the corruption allegations he leveled against him and condemned as ridiculous, the recommendations of the party’s Board of Trustees on the crisis in the PDP.
A couple of events have in the past few days been threatening the peace within the PDP.
Most notable among the recent incidents were the defence of the National Chairman against the allegations of corruption by Governor Wike, the recommendations of the Board of Trustees on the crisis over leadership positions, and a comment credited to the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar about the North not needing the Yoruba or Igbo candidates.
Wike had earlier said that the national leadership of the PDP needs to do the right thing if the party must win the presidential election in 2023.
He insisted that the right thing is the resignation of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as PDP national chairman, for a southerner to occupy the seat within the principle of equity, fairness, and justice.
He emphasized that any leader of a group who causes crisis within the group that he leads truly lacks the requisite skills to navigate the affairs of such a group.
“This is the time to show leadership skill on the part of those who are leaders of the party. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate. He is the one who feels the pain.”
Governor Wike made reference to the party’s constitution that spells it out in Section 7 (3) (c) that all political and elective positions must be zoned.
He wondered why it is now so difficult for Senator Ayu to respect the constitution or even keep to his promise and quit the office if a northern is elected as PDP standard bearer.
“We have not held the presidential primary before the national chairman of the party said if the presidential candidate emerges from his area, he will quit.”
Wike also accused Ayu of collecting one hundred million Naira, first from a certain governor to renovate the party’s democratic institution, and later went to PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to collect the exact amount for the same purpose. Governor Wike dares Senator Ayu to deny it.
“Let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100million naira from a governor that he was going to renovate our democratic institution and then he went back to the PDP NWC and took the same N100million naira for doing the same work.”
He further added, “What kind of system is that? I am telling you all these are facts. Let him (Ayu) say no first and I will tell you (those he collected money from).”
He pointed to the importance of the mission of rescuing Nigeria expected of the PDP by Nigerians. But the mission, he said requires a leader with proven integrity to lead the party.
