2023: “I Have No Problem With The Presidential Candidate” – Wike Gives Condition To Support PDP

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has insisted that he has no personal issues with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The Governor who made the fresh declaration on Tuesday added that he is only fighting for the interest of his people in Rivers State, South-south, and the entire southern region.

The declaration comes a few days after Atiku disclosed that he has visited Wike personally five times and he is waiting for the Rivers Governor on how to resolve the PDP crisis.

Wike insisted that the only condition that will make him support the PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election is if Iyorchia Ayu steps down as the party’s chairman and is replaced by a southerner.

Naija News reports he stated this when his political associates and Rivers elders led by the Chairman, Rivers Elders Council (REC), Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, paid him a visit at his private residence in Rumueprikom to felicitate with him on his birthday.

A statement released by the Governor’s media aide, Kelvin Ebiri quoted Wike to have said that: “I have no problem with presidential candidate. All I am saying is what is the interest of Rivers people? What is the interest of the Southsouth and the South?”

I Am Happy I Contested The PDP Presidential Ticket

Speaking further, Wike said he has no regret about contesting the 2023 presidential ticket of the PDP even though he lost.

He added that he is not bitter about the loss and his current actions are not because of what transpired during the party’s primary election in Abuja.

He said: “I don’t regret I ran for presidency. In the name of God, I am happy to make Rivers State proud. I am happy as far I am concerned. If they had allow it to be what it is supposed to be, I would win the election. But it’s okay. It has happened.

“People said because I lost election, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t lose election. This is my first time of trying to run for the president of Nigeria and we made impact. If it is easy let them go ahead. Are they not the ones begging.”

Rivers PDP Politics

The Governor said some of those against him in the state because of how candidates emerged for elective positions ahead of the 2023 polls need to understand the place of fairness and justice.

Wike insisted that he didn’t force the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminalaye Fubara on the party.

He said: “I called Austin (Opara) , he sat here and I said look my brother leave it, it will not work. I don’t want to cause crisis in our system. Amaechi finished eight years as governor, I’m going to finish eight years as governor too.

“It will be difficult to sell another Ikwerre person as Governor for another eight years. Omehia said he wants to go to the Senate, I said leave it. Ikwerre has gone, Ogu has gone, leave Etche to go.

“You people said I should go (to Senate), I said I won’t. Allwell ( Onyesoh) could not have stopped me. Yes, today we are majority, you don’t know what tomorrow will be. I never did anything to undermine anybody. We must understand that.”