G5 arrowhead Wike says Atiku disregards Rivers electoral value
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers and go and choose those who are enemies of the state, without the contribution from us.
“So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the state, the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.”
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Nyesom Wike, Rivers Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 arrowhead, has finally declared he will not campaign or vote for Atiku Abubakar because the party’s presidential candidate disregards the electoral value of the state.
Wike said Atiku has shown by his actions that he does not need his (Wike’s) support as Rivers PDP leader or that of state PDP members as presidential candidates step up their campaigns.
Those who disrespect Rivers and its electoral worth do not deserve its vote for themselves or for their candidates, he stressed.
In his view, Atiku and the PDP leadership have shown they place no value on Rivers by picking people from the state into their campaign council without his input.
“The [PDP] presidential candidate [Atiku] entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the Governor,” Wike said at the inauguration of Rivers PDP Campaign Council in Port Harcourt, per The Nation.
“So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them; they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself on them?
“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers and go and choose those who are enemies of the state, without the contribution from us.
“So, let’s campaign for those who have told us to campaign for them here in the state, the governorship candidate, the senatorial candidates and others.”
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PDP deeper in crisis
Wike’s declaration sinks the PDP deeper into conflict over the refusal of National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to resign so a Southerner can take his place.
The PDP G5 Governors mounting pressure on him to resign are Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Other senior members of the party who back the demand include former Information Minister Jerry Gana and former PDP Deputy National Chairman Bode George.
The Ayu must-go crusaders argue having the presidential candidate and the National Chairmen from the same region negates equity.
They ask Ayu to honour his word since he had promised ab initio to quit for a National Chairman from the South if a Northerner clinched the presidential ticket.
Before Wike’s latest declaration, the G5 had pulled out of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) until Ayu resigns.