BY: News Peddlers
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has described as disappointing the unguarded public comments attributed to respected party members against him following the Peoples Democratic Party's presidential primaries on May 29 and 30, 2022.
The governor insisted that the right thing for such people to do, particularly former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the party's National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, was to reach out to him, which they never did.
Shortly after he arrived from Spain, Wike made these comments to journalists on Friday at the Omagwa international terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.
This information was provided to newsmen in Port Harcourt in a statement by the governor's special assistant on media, Kelvin Ebiri.
Wike explained how Atiku lied against him during the unveiling of the PDP's vice-presidential candidate, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and his appearance on national television.
"But there will come a time when people will understand and know the true facts," the statement said. "So, obviously, whether or not I will speak is not in doubt; (it is) to inform Nigerians of the truth."
"Now that they know the truth, whatever they do with it is up to Nigerians. Because, as you can imagine, when the PDP's presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, unveiled his vice presidential candidate, no right-thinking PDP supporter would say that his speech that day was fair."
"Forget about the favor seekers and the scavengers. But I didn't react to it. This is due to the fact that this party belongs to all of us. Following that, he (Atiku) appeared on Arise Television, as evidenced by his statement. Many lies were told, and you advised me not to respond to some of them. That would be unjust."
Wike stated that following the PDP primary, he returned to Rivers State is to focus on fulfilling the remaining promises he made to the Rivers people.
He claimed that some finished projects had already been planned out for his inauguration and that after those were finished, he would address all of the false accusations made against him.
"Assuming I'm not alive today," the governor said, "what they've said would obviously be accepted as the truth. Take a look at his attack dogs, Sule Lamido, Babaginda Aliyu, and Maina Waziri. Examine the statements they made. Consider the abuse they heaped on me, but I never retaliated.
"And Nigerians will wonder, do you mean these things happened?" As a result, it is critical for me as a person, for my own future, and for those who rally around me to say, "Look, this is not fair." So I'll make certain that I respond to them, line by line, of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's and his attack dogs' statements."
Wike stated that he contested the presidential primary fairly and finished second, and that he would not tolerate being vilified.
"But his people come up to me every day to attack me, to say one thing or another. That is quite unfair, and I should inform Nigerians at the appropriate time. That will be after the completion of the projects we have planned.
"We will say, look, this is not correct, so that posterity, history will be on our side that we were able to clear the record." So there should be no doubt about whether I will speak about the PDP, the primaries, or other related issues.
"Nigerians will know what happened, Nigerians will know who loves this country, and Nigerians will know what happened behind the scenes." "And that is to assure you that I will speak on it," he said.
Wike clarified that former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki met with him in Spain, but that he was not sent by Alhaji Atiku, and that no one should think in that way.
Wike questioned why Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who had previously paid him a visit to ask for his support, did not know how to get to the house he had previously visited.
In response, Atiku's media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, said that while some may have wanted to escalate the situation, the former vice president and PDP were focused on finding a solution.
Ibe, who spoke in a telephone interview with Saturday PUNCH, said, “His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar had his interview and Governor Wike has had his response, we are now focused on bringing to a closure the crisis that has arisen from the nomination process.
"That is our focus, and it is the focus of well-meaning leaders, stakeholders, party members, and even Nigerians seeking leadership that will change their fortunes.
"Those who want to escalate this crisis will be disappointed." Our focus remains on completing all of these tasks. The process of resolving the crisis caused by the nomination process is ongoing, and it will be completed sooner rather than later," he said.
SOURCE: PUNCH