Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has exposed the ethnical marginalization and substantial corruption within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), restating his detachment from the party’s presidential campaign until its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu resigns.
In a media parley on Friday, Wike revealed the play of corruption that followed events that led to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the PDP.
According to him, Ayu spearheaded the group that ganged up against him to see that he never emerged as the flagbearer of the party.
He claimed that Ayu collected N1 billion to support Atiku to become the party’s presidential candidate.
“He was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge.
“Meetings upon meetings were going. Pressures were being mounted on people to step down
“Even on the night of the convention meetings were going on. That is why we started our convention late.
“Some of the retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. There is nothing they didn’t do for me to step down,” Wike said.
The governor called out Atiku for dishonesty after he promised him that he would make Ayu resign but failed to see it through.
“He visited me after his emergence and promised that Ayu would resign, but he failed to actualise it. He also met us in London and promised that Ayu must go but we were surprised that he went to a gathering and cited constitutional issues,” he said.
Wike stated that Atiku is surrounded by allies who lack political values that are disreputable for his presidential ambition.
He further stated PDP is arrogant and that will not see them win the election, especially knowing that they are in the opposition.
“A party that is in the opposition and serious to win an election cannot be as arrogant as the PDP. If the PDP cannot restructure itself to correct the marginalisation in the PDP, Nigerians are now doubting the party’s capacity to unite the country.”
“Those asking the party to sanction me especially Waziri from Yobe State lack electoral values. Since 1999, PDP has never won Yobe,” he stated.
The governor dared the party to sanction him, gloating that they know what the consequences of such would do to them if they dare attempt it.
He restated his disconnection from the Atiku’s camp until his demands are met.
“If at the end, the party refuses to meet our demand, we will meet again to take a decision on our next strategies for the election. Haven’t you seen where a senatorial candidate lost in an area while the governorship candidate from the same party won in that same place?.”