Wike also said the two-time member of the National Assembly does not have what it takes to vie for the position of a governor
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has threatened to work against his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if Senator Dino Melaye emerges as the governorship candidate of the party in Kogi State.
Wike also said the two-time member of the National Assembly does not have what it takes to vie for such a position.
He made the remarks while speaking during a media chat with selected journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, arguing that if PDP gives the ticket to the former Kogi West lawmaker, the party is doomed to lose.
He said: “When you give Dino that ticket, you know he won’t win in Kogi State.
“Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?
“Dino does not have what it takes for crying out loud,” Wike maintained, adding that, “He knows me very well. He does not have what it takes to be a governor “.
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When asked if he will support the party if it gives its governorship ticket to the former senator he said: “Do you need to ask me that kind of question? Are you not aware that I would not do that?”
He went on to accuse the party’s leadership of trying to “manipulate” the process in favour of Melaye.
“Why are you trying to manipulate this in favour of one aspirant?” Wike added.
Reacting to his comments, Senator Melaye said the Rivers State governor was suffering from a psychotic disorder.
He went on to say he is qualified for the position and that Wike has nothing against him save for the fact he didn’t support his selfish tendencies in the PDP.
“For the Kogi governorship race, I have contested before in 2019. Wike supported me with a private jet because I was qualified then. But now Wike couldn’t understand why I should be the next Governor of Kogi State in 2024 because he falsely sees himself as a godfather outside Rivers State, which is a sign of psychotic disorder.
“My credentials are clear – I am not corrupt, no anti-corruption agency is looking for me. I was a two-time member of the National Assembly, I served my people diligently and attracted developments to my constituency and senatorial district respectively. After May 29, we will get to know whether Wike is wanted or not.
“What is even the worth of Wike’s support? The answer is zero or total failure. In the just-concluded 2023 general election, he wasted Rivers State government money in Cross Rivers State to install a governor for them but his candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, failed woefully.
“Similarly, he embarked on the same misadventure in Akwa Ibom State, his candidate, Senator Bassey Akpan, lost to the PDP candidate.
“Also, his closest friend in the G5 misadventure, Samuel Ortom, couldn’t win a senatorial election despite the amount of Rivers money misappropriated into the venture. So, Wike should steer clear of Kogi politics!,” Melaye stated.