The Governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike has maintained that his push for the resignation of the national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu is based on an agreement he had with Atiku Abubakar after the May 28 presidential primary
Speaking at the commissioning of the Ahoada campus of the Rivers state university, broadcast live on AIT, Wike disclosed that the former Vice President met him in his residence in Abuja on the 30th of May, two days after Atiku emerged as presidential candidate
During the meeting, Wike said they both agreed that they have to work together for the interest of the party. He also said that Atiku agreed with him that the national chairman of the PDP Iyorchia Ayu should step down.
Wike insists that all he is asking for is a compliance with the agreement.
He said it is arrogance on the part of the presidential candidate to ignore the agreement, ignore his demands and proceed along as if he (Wike) and his camp do not matter
According to him, the party’s national chairman and presidential candidate take decisions without consulting other key stakeholders
Wike also alleged that the presidency is backing Atiku. “Why are they being so arrogant? They’re arrogant because they believe someone in the Presidency is backing them”.
He vowed to continue fighting until the right thing is done. “I will continue to fight this fight. This injustice is enough. We can’t be slaves to anybody”.
He also alleged that positions have already been shared on who will be the senate president, saying nothing has been said about those in his state and in his camp.
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He further argued that the idea of a presidential candidate and the national chairman of the party coming from the same zone is alien to the PDP
“Let nobody deceive you. We are talking about structure of the country, as it should be. The presidential candidate must alway discuss with the chairman of the party. It has never happened where the chairman and the presidential candidate come from same region”
He denied that there was a settlement when the governorship candidates of the PDP visited him in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. “When the guber candidates came to see me, I asked them do you want a candidate and party chairman to come from the same zone?”
However, the fresh claim of Wike that Atiku met him after the presidential primaries contradicts his earlier statement that Atiku did not reach out to him since the May 28 contest.
Wike made the statement on the July 29, at the Port Harcourt International Airport shortly after his arrival from an international trip.
He said, “After 31st of May, not one person has come to talk to me. It is most unfortunate whe
people tell lies. Some senators called me that Atiku Abubakar sent Saraki to me. That is not correct. I was in Spain. Bukola came to me and said, ‘My brother, how do we settle this problem?’ I asked ‘Did Atiku send you?’ He said no. I said, ‘Look at the issues.’
Governor Wike has been quite vocal in his disaffection with his party since the presidential primary which his lost to Atiku.
But his demand for the resignation of the national chairman to ensure ethnic balance in the party has been resisted by Ayu, despite the chairman not denying that he had committed to stepping down if the presidential candidate of the party emerges from the north
