The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, opened up on events that led to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the Peoples Democratic Presidential candidate during the PDP primaries.
He said if not for the love he and others in his camp had for the main opposition party, they could have prevented the PDP convention from holding.
Wike, who revealed this in an ongoing media parley, alleged that the PDP’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, played a vital role that was detrimental to other aspirants in the emergence of Atiku as PDP flagbearer.
The governor alleged that Ayu called several presidential aspirants to step down for the former vice president during the convention.
“He was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge,” Wike said.
The governor added, “Meetings upon meetings were going. Pressures were being mounted on people to step down.
“Even on the night of the convention meetings were going on. That is why we started our convention late.
“Some of the retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. There is nothing they didn’t do for me to step down.
“Those who know me, know that I would have stopped the convention, even if heaven falls.”
Wike’s camp had announced their plan not to participate in the campaign council which was scheduled for inauguration next Wednesday after a meeting at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday morning.
Reacting to the withdrawal from his campaign council on Wednesday, Atiku in a statement he personally signed reiterated his decision not to interfere in the demands for Ayu’s removal.
Wike also challenged the
PDP to suspend him over alleged anti-party activities.
The Rivers State Governor made the challenge on Friday while fielding questions from journalists in the just concluded media chat in Port Harcourt.
Wike said they won’t dare that because they know what he can do, adding that those that left the party can’t suspend.
“I beg them to call for a NEC meeting today and say Governor of Rivers State you’re hereby suspended from the party. Anything yiu see, you take. They know what I will do. Pikin that said him mama no go sleep, won’t sleep too. Nobody has the monopoly of causing problem.
Asked if he’s not engaged in anti-party activities, he said the insinuation isn’t correct adding that other parties are visiting him because they want to win Rivers asking “who doesn’t want to win Rivers State?”
Presidential candidates from other political parties have met with the Rivers Governor to woo him into supporting them in the 2023 general election.
He said even their presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is talking to other party members to support him.