September 23, (THEWILL) – Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, has again insisted on the resignation of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, as the only resolution to the internal crisis of the PDP.
He suggested that as a way to prevent a constitutional crisis, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party can adopt the doctrine of necessity to decide on Ayu’s replacement during the party’s national convention after the general election in 2023.
Wike, who spoke on Friday, during a media chat at the Rivers State Government House, in Port Harcourt, maintained that the Presidential candidate of the party cannot come from the North and the Chairman of the party also comes from the same region.
He said the insistence of him and his team is because of an agreement with the presidential candidate and the party chairman’s earlier commitment that if the party’s presidential candidate comes from the north, he would resign.
The Rivers State governor also accused Senator Iyorchia Ayu of working against his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate.
He alleged that Ayu had threatened to resign as chairman if he emerged as the candidate, stating the National Chairman manipulated the process for the victory of Atiku.
Wike alleged that Ayu called many presidential aspirants to withdraw for Atiku Abubakar, who eventually picked the ticket.
He mentioned some of those contacted to withdraw for Atiku as Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed: his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Wike, who accused the Party’s National Chairman of being very corrupt, challenged him to an open debate on the matter.
“Ayu is very very corrupt. He has the opportunity to challenge me. Will he deny that he did not collect N1 billion in Lagos State? I can say how the money was arranged and collected
“He told one of the PDP presidential aspirants before the primary that the governors were not ready to fund the party.
“I know how the money was arranged and those involved in packaging the money. He collected N1 billion. Let him come out to tell Nigerians it is not true and I will reveal more.”
Wike also disclosed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, offered him a senatorial ticket after the PDP presidential primary, but he turned down the offer.
The Rivers governor said he rejected the ticket offer from the APC presidential candidate due to his loyalty to the opposition party and commitment to ensuring that PDP returns to power during the 2023 election in the country.
According to him, he contested the presidential primary because he wanted to be the candidate.
‘’I didn’t contest so I can become a vice presidential candidate, I am not like others who were not serious and bought senatorial form alongside presidential form and that’s why when Tinubu offered me senate slot, I didn’t go for it”‘ he said, adding that he was aware of the moves by Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State governor, to become the vice presidential candidate of the PDP.
His words: “We knew he (Atiku) was going to run with Okowa. We also knew Okowa supported him. We were all aware. It is not that we didn’t see. Take, for instance, the United States of America, (Joe) Biden ran and the current vice president of America, Kamala Harris, gave Biden a serious problem.
“When they wanted to pick the Vice President, Biden said this woman gave me a serious problem, I cannot pick this woman, but those in Biden’s camp, who meant well for him told him, ‘If you want to win this election, you must pick Kamala Harris.’ And look at the support (for Biden) today.
“The problem with some of our leaders is that there are so many rent-seekers around them. They (rent-seekers) have not been in power for years. So they are all looking for how to bounce back. They are people who have no value to add.”
Asked if he was not scared of being suspended by the party, he said: “I beg them today, they shouldn’t waste time. They should call a NEC meeting and say the Governor of Rivers State, you’re hereby suspended from the party.
“Anything you see you take. They know what I will do. Nobody has the monopoly of making problems.”
He maintained that the PDP cannot do without him if the party seeks to get massive support in Rivers State.
“You can do without me, I agree, but to say you will do without me in this state (Rivers), it will not be possible”, Wike declared, adding that individuals who are pulling the strings of discord in the PDP are those who rarely bring anything to the table.
The Governor also revealed his plans if he had emerged as the PDP presidential flag bearer and eventually won the 2023 election.
“I’m pained that I wasn’t able to fight Bandits and oil theft. These were two things I told myself I was going to do. I said I was going to fight terrorists and oil theft squarely.”
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