Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the G-5 governors of the PDP will soon foreclose the possibility of reconciliation.
Wike asked the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to be ready to face repercussions if they fail to yield to the G-5 governors’ demand to cede the party chairmanship to the South.
Wike and four other governors – Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Samuel Ortom (Benue), who were all elected on the platform of the party, have withdrawn their support for the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku, insisting that the party’s National Chairman, Ayu should relinquish his position to a southerner.
Their demand for Ayu’s resignation was because the PDP presidential candidate and national chairman cannot be from the same region.
In an interview with the BBC Pidgin at the weekend, monitored in Port Harcourt, Wike said the G-5 governors would soon shut their door of reconciliation against the leadership of PDP.
He added that there would be no coming back once the G-5 governors decide on their choice of a presidential candidate.
Wike reiterated that their choice of a presidential candidate would soon be made known to the public, adding that they were not in a hurry to decide on whom to support.
Wike said: “Some people are counting January 4th, 16th. They should calm down. We are all politicians; we have political strategies. I don’t work as an individual. That’s what people don’t understand.
“There are different strategies in going to war. What you see today is not what you see tomorrow. Oh, I laugh at them (PDP) when they say we are in touch with so, so governor.
“The point I am trying to tell you is that PDP should have their opportunity because there will come a time the door will be shut and nothing will happen. If that day comes, if heaven wants to come down, let it come down.
“Nobody should threaten anyone. If we (G-5) take the decision today that we will not support the PDP candidate, we will give reasons why we will not support it and nothing anybody will do about it. They should better be careful,” Wike explained.
Wike also reacted to reports where he was quoted as saying that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, is presidential material, stressing that his statement did not mean an endorsement of Obi.
“If I tell Obi that he is presidential material, does that mean an endorsement?” Wike queried.
Wike has also told Ayu and Atiku to be ready to face consequences if they fail to yield to the G-5 Governors camp’s demand to cede the party chairmanship to the South.
Wike gave the warning yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State while reacting to the resignation of former health minister and a member of PDP Board of Trustees, Prof ABC Nwosu from the party, a development he said has vindicated the G-5 governors in their demand for equity, fairness and justice.
Addressing the visiting stakeholders of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area on the occasion, Wike said, “I have continued to challenge them. What are we fighting for? What I said and will continue to say is that all of us are from this country. Nobody is a second class citizen.
“We agreed that this is how our party will be. Recently Prof. A.B.C Nwosu resigned from the party saying his conscience will not allow him, that the constitution of the party is clear, if you take this, these other people will take that. Why now are we saying that we won’t do it again?
“What the people are saying is look, you have taken this, let these people take that and you are saying you will take all. If you take all, you will also face the repercussions,” Wike explained.
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Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
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