Governor Wike has disclosed how Atiku and his allies thwarted the zoning of the PDP Presidential ticket to the South.
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has attacked those who accuse him and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State of thwarting the micro-zoning of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket to the South-East geopolitical zone.
The governor stated that he has always believed in and supported concerted efforts to zone the presidency to the South.
Wike spoke on Monday at the Itu Bridge Head in the Itu community, Emohua local government area of Rivers State, where the Akpabu-Odido Road project was inaugurated.
He stated, “I was among those who led the campaign for the North to receive the party chairmanship because I believe the PDP Presidential ticket should go to the South.
I attended meetings of Southern Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other parties in the states of Delta, Lagos, and Enugu, where we agreed that the presidency should be moved to the South.
The governor insisted that while the Southern cross-party consultations were ongoing, there were PDP members intent on thwarting the eventual zoning of the presidential ticket to the South.
Wike asserted that these individuals cannot now blame him and the governor of Benue State in order to conceal their scheme and deceive Nigerians.
He stated, “I awoke this morning and read how Wike and Ortom thwarted the PDP’s micro-zoning of the presidential nomination for the South-East. Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate, stated as much.
“As I’ve repeatedly stated, they’ll contradict themselves and tell nonstop lies, believing that Nigerians are ignorant. How can they claim that I influenced Ortom and instructed him to allow and release the PDP Presidential ticket?
“Nigerians recognise first those who oppose zoning for the party’s chairmanship. And this time, when the zoning committee was established, Atiku went to buy form to thwart the committee’s recommendation. So that, once they have acquired form, they can claim that zoning is unnecessary. Will you advise individuals to withdraw?”
The governor stated that it is quite remarkable that their deception is now being used against them because they were unfair to Nigerians.
Wike added: “Yes, you don’t like Ortom, no problem. If you don’t like me, it’s not a problem. However, my state gave you the greatest logistical and electoral support in 2019.
“You cannot continue to deceive every Nigerian. I have always advocated for equity, fairness, and justice. Therefore, it is neither here nor there to say that I and Ortom frustrated PDP micro-zoning in the South-East. They are aware that they do not want the presidency to be located in the South.
The governor urged the PDP presidential nominee, Atiku Abubakar, to leave him out of the party challenges he was experiencing.
He stated, however, that it is always difficult to sell a poor product; otherwise, former president Olusegun Obasanjo would have recommended Atiku to Nigerians after working with him.
Wike noted, however, that the former president chose to endorse Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
The governor insisted that something must be fundamentally wrong if former president Obasanjo refused to endorse Alhaji Atiku.
He believed that Alhaji Atiku should be more concerned about his former boss’s loss of confidence and the upcoming election.
Commenting on the road project, Governor Wike thanked God that, during his administration, the Odido community will receive a modern road for the first time in its history.
The governor boasted that it was difficult to believe that the people of Odido would vote for candidates of a party other than the PDP, given their overwhelming happiness.
Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, stated that the Akpabu-Odido Road features a 22-meter-long bridge when describing the project.
According to him, since the contractor has been on-site for roughly two months, the project will be completed within the stipulated five-month timeframe.
Consequently, he said, members of the community will be able to drive on a road for the first time into their homestead, benefit from associated development, gain easy access to their farms, and enjoy an enhanced commercial existence.
Dr. Chidi Lloyd, chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, stated in his address that the Odido community is an island that has never seen an asphalted road and is not connected to any neighbouring communities.
With the official start of construction and the raising of the flag, Dr. Lloyd is optimistic that the Odido people will no longer be subjected to the tribulations they usually endure.
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