Atiku Vs Wike: I Was Never Part Of G5 Governors’ Allies – Anyim

A former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, has denied media reports that he was one of the allies of the five aggrieved Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) popularly known as the G5 governors.

Anyim was reacting to a newspaper report that the G5 governors and other PDP leaders have taken a stand on their choice of presidential candidates.

But in a statement he signed on Friday in Abuja, the former presidential aspirant said at no time was he part of the G5 governors and one of the party leaders backing them.

The PDP chieftain asserted that he has his own convictions about why he should not, in any way, be part of the G5 governors and leaders calling for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Anyim said that after the party’s presidential primaries, he chose to remain in the PDP as a leader and responsible citizen who should indeed place Nigeria above his personal interest.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to a front-page story of a newspaper of 17/02/2023 with the above caption. I want to state upfront that at no time was I part of the G5 governors and or leaders [of the PDP].

“I am sufficiently knowledgeable of the events leading to and after the PDP presidential primaries and have my own convictions about why I should not, in any way, be part of the G5 governors and leaders.

“I want to state very clearly that after the presidential primaries, I chose to remain in the PDP as a leader and responsible citizen of Nigeria who should indeed place Nigeria over and above my personal interest. I must confess that this decision was reinforced by my experience from working with President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Recall that the G5 governors, tagged the Integrity Group, have continued to call for Ayu’s resignation over claims of lopsidedness in the party’s hierarchy.

Following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar s the party’s presidential candidate, the G5 governors said the flagbearer and the national chairman cannot come from the region.

The G5 governors include Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo).