Wike dismisses last-minute agreement with Atiku, saying “it’s over”

Following Bola Tinubu’s rally in the state on Wednesday, the governor added that he owes no one an apology for having welcomed him to Port Harcourt.

Few days before the February 25 presidential election, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State ruled out any last-minute truce or arrangement between the G5 and Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In order to mediate a settlement between the G5 or the Integrity Group and the party’s national leadership, led by Iyorchia Ayu, the governor added that he is not prepared to sit down with any representative of Atiku’s camp.

In a media interview on Thursday morning, Wike added that he owes no one an apology for having Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate, stay with him in Port Harcourt following the latter’s rally in the state on Wednesday.

Wike responded, “No, we can’t do that; it’s over! Nothing can be done about what we have said at this time. They think they can win the election. I’m not prepared to have a conversation with anyone once more.

Since the party’s presidential primary in May of last year, Wike, a G5 member, has not been able to communicate with Atiku.

The G5 is made up of five PDP governors from southern Nigeria who are upset, including Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

READ ALSO: Tinubu, Shettima, and APC Govs visit Wike while Amaechi is absent

The five governors have consistently demanded that Ayu resign as PDP national chairman before they can back Atiku’s bid for the presidency in 2023.

Despite recent silence from the G5, Wike insisted that the organisation was still alive. He asserts that the gang has its own tactics and that “not all of us will do the talking. We are not apart just because some people are quiet.

The governor stated, “We know what all of us have agreed,” but he withheld which of the other 17 presidential contenders the group would back in next week’s election.

“G5 Aware Of Ugwuanyi’s Reception Of Atiku”
A G5 member and the governor of Enugu State (Ugwuanyi) met Atiku on Tuesday at the Government House in the state’s capital, but he was absent from the PDP presidential candidate’s rally.

In response to the event, Wike stated that Ugwuanyi’s acceptance of Atiku did not indicate that he had left the G5.

“We were aware of it even before the governor of Enugu welcomed Atiku in Government House.

“We are unable to provide you the strategy. Forget what people are saying; the 25th has here. Everyone will be able to see it, according to Wike.