Given his ongoing conflict with the PDP’s leadership following the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate in May 2022, his candidature for president is significant.
Despite mounting pressure, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike claims he never disclosed to the public how he would reveal his presidential preference in the upcoming election.
Since Wike promised last month that he would announce his favourite candidate, all eyes are on him.
Given that he has been fighting with the PDP’s leadership ever since former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was chosen as the party’s candidate for president in May 2022, his running for president is a big deal.
Wike is one of the “G5”, or Integrity Group, of five disgruntled PDP governors who have steadfastly refused to accept that the North produced both the national chairman and the presidential candidate.
On the basis that there must be equity, fairness, and justice, they have declined to support Atiku.
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On Tuesday, Dakuku Peterside, a former director general of NIMASA (the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency), pressed Wike to pick his presidential candidate.
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) member was retaliated against by the governor of Rivers.
“You’re brave to suggest that I choose my presidential candidate. Are we on equal footing? Are failure and success the same? Wike posed the question during the PDP rally for Rivers State on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
“Look at the man who fails every day without exception.” He lacks comprehension of G5’s activities. Most people who don’t know that we’re battling G5 have heard me say that it’s like guerilla warfare. The more you look, the less you see.
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“I never informed anyone that one day I would bring a camera and tell you who was going to depart.” I promised to let the people of Rivers know which candidate they should support. I forgot to tell you how to say it.I didn’t say I would offer live coverage and announce it. But Rivers residents are aware.
Wike also mocked Peterside for losing the governorship elections in 2015 and 2019.
“Look at this young child I spanked in 2015. I’m not sure which region they are claiming he is from—is it the Opobo or Abia side? Envy! In 2015, I whipped him to death.
“He is still suffering from that.” He had anticipated receiving a ticket for 2019, but he did not. He was sent to serve at NIMASA. Ask him: What did he deliver for the Rivers people?
He stated, “You have a position, you are unable to assist your people, and you are going out to air your grievances merely because you did not receive [the ticket] and they did not grant you a second term to be DG of NIMASA.”
