Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has said some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors almost thwarted the desire for a southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Wike explained that he contested the PDP presidential primary last year because of his firm belief that the south should produce Buhari’s successor.
The Governor spoke on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, during the Rivers State student community town hall meeting/interactive session at the Obi Wali International Conference centre, Port Harcourt.
He explained why the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors adhered to the resolutions reached by southern Governors in Asaba, Lagos and Enugu their PDP counterparts acted otherwise.
“We agreed in Southern Nigeria, all of us as governors, we agreed, we said it doesn’t matter the party you belong to, whether you are in no party, whether you are in a party, whether you are in any organisation, power must come to the south. But we in PDP betrayed ourselves.”
Wike said he had no problem with anybody, who voted for any of the two major presidential candidates from the south in the just-concluded election.
“What matters most is that presidential power will be shifting from the north to the south of Nigeria at the end of President Buhari’s tenure”, he said
Wike used the interactive session to acquaint the students with his numerous developmental achievements.
He urged them to support the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara on Saturday’s election to consolidate on the gains of his administration.
‘Peter Obi Left PDP Because Of Northern Born-To-Rule Politicians’ – Wike Denies Role In Saga
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has claimed that former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Labour Party, LP, because of moves by some politicians in the PDP to make sure power remained in the north.
Wike stated this when he hosted, on a courtesy visit, the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
The governor said he was a major proponent of a Southern president, insisting that Obi decided to leave the PDP when former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, told him (Obi) that power would continue in the north this year.
He said: “I supported that power must come to the south. When [Peter] Obi came here, I gave him all the logistics, vehicles, and other support and paid for the stadium, but some other persons applied and I refused. You should know me too well by now.
“Obi was running with us. I knew when Obi left. He was principled and he said he couldn’t stand it, people should say the truth.
“He went to see Sule Lamido in Jigawa, not in Dutse, but in a village that will take you more than four or five hours drive from Dutse, the capital.
“You know what he told Obi? He did not tell him that look, you came late and I have chosen somebody. He said it is the north that would produce the next president. That was how Obi left [the PDP] saying why is he wasting time. Ask him. That is how he left PDP.”
