Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday, took a swipe at those who accused him and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State of frustrating the micro-zoning of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket in the South-East.
Wike said he always believes in and supports efforts to ensure the presidency is zoned to the south. He spoke at Head of Itu Bridge, a flag post on Akpabu-Odido Road in Emohua Local Council.
He said, “I was one of those who led the campaign that the party chairman should go north because I believe the president should go south.”
“I attended meetings of southern governors of APC, PDP and other parties from Delta to Lagos to Enugu state, where we agreed that the presidency should come to the south.”
Wike asserted that while the cross-party consultation in the south was underway, there were people in the PDP who wanted to disrupt the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket in the south.
Such people, he said, could not turn back now, lying, blaming him and Ortom, with the intention of hiding the plan.
“I woke up this morning and read where they said, ‘How Wike and Ortom frustrated the PDP micro-zoning the presidential ticket for the southeast’. That’s what the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku said.
“I keep saying that he will contradict himself, lie up and down, thinking that Nigerians don’t understand. How can he say that I influenced Ortom, say that he allowed and opened the ticket? asked Wike.
He added: “Nigerians know those who oppose zoning party leaders first. And when the zoning committee, this time Atiku went to buy forms, to disrupt the zoning committee’s recommendation.
The Rivers State governor has called on the PDP presidential aspirant to not go out of his way to face challenges in the party. According to him, bad products are always difficult to sell; if not, Obasanjo has recommended Atiku to Nigerians, has worked together with him.