PDP Crisis: I’ve No Personal Beef With Atiku, ‘Ayu Must Go’ – Wike

The governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has stated that he has no personal beef with Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, save from his insistence that the North cede control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairperson to the South.

Wike made this statement on Tuesday while celebrating his 55th birthday at his home in Rumueprikom with friends from the political world and the Rivers Elders Council, which was led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba as chairman.

He continued by saying that despite losing to Atiku in the presidential primary, he had no regrets about running.

According to him, “I don’t regret I ran for presidency. In the name of God, I am happy to make Rivers proud as far I am concerned.

“If they had allow it to be what it is supposed to be, I would have won the election. But it’s okay. It has happened.

“People said it’s because I lost election. It doesn’t matter. I didn’t lose election.

“This is my first time of trying to run for the presidency of Nigeria and we made impact. If it is easy, let them go ahead. Are they not the ones begging.

“I have no problem with the presidential candidate (Atiku). All I am saying is what is the interest of Rivers people? What is the interest of the South-South, and the South?”

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In regards to the problems with the estranged Rivers political allies, he stated, “I called Austin (Opara), he sat here and I said, ‘look my brother, leave it, it will not work. I don’t want to cause crisis in our system. Amaechi finished eight years as governor, I’m going to finish eight years as governor too’.

“It will be difficult to sell another Ikwerre person as governor for another eight years. Omehia said he wants to go to the Senate, I said leave it. Ikwerre has gone, Ogu has gone, leave Etche to go.

“You people said I should go (to Senate), I said I won’t. Allwell (Onyesoh) could not have stopped me.

“Yes, today we are majority, you don’t know what tomorrow will be. I never did anything to undermine anybody. We must understand that.”

Wike denied claims that Sim Fubara was forced to run as the PDP’s governor candidate for Rivers. He insisted that the choice was made collectively.

“When O. C. J. Okocha comes back, we will publish the agreement signed by all.

“We will win. I am not running for election, but I’m running an election. My name is not in the ballot, but I’m running an election.

“You’ll hear what is going to happen. Everybody don’t panic. It is something God has given to us,” he said.