The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has landed a heavy blow on presidential mandate of the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP, reiterating that there is no justification for retaining the Presidency in the North in 2023.
Recall that Alhaji Atiku Abubaka, the presidential candidate for PDP is a Northerner, having defeated Wike and other aspirants months ago in the party’s presidential primary election, the victory for Atiku means that the North still a chance of remaining in the power through either Atiku’s victory or Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, come February 2023
However, Wike has urged those protesting against the same faith ticket of the ruling APC, to ponder on the neglect of zoning or rotation of the president between the North and the South.
The governor said those saying that the country is not ripe for Muslim-Muslim ticket should be courageous to decry the abolition of presidential zoning in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), IsL source, Nation Online reports.
Wike spoke on Sunday at the special dedication service for the Rivers State PDP 2023 General Election Campaign Rallies, which held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, maintained that persons involved in doublespeak were trying to hoodwink some gullible few.
He said such individuals knew that they were insulting the sensibility of well-meaning Nigerians, who desired a united country to advance national cohesion.
Wike said: “You play on people’s intelligence; you say Nigeria is not ripe for Muslim-Muslim ticket, I agree. But Nigeria is ripe for presidency to remain in one zone? I mean, just look at the insult. You blow hot and cold.”
The governor asked people condemning the Muslim-Muslim ticket to also know that Nigerians were also against the retention of the presidency in the North after President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “Most of you just sit there, you don’t ask yourselves questions. Somebody continues to sell this kind of cheap ideas. You don’t ask the person. I agree with what you are saying, but look at what we are saying here.
“Your party wants the presidency to go to the same zone where President Muhammadu Buhari is coming from. Who is cheating who?”
The Rivers governor also reminded the church of the need to participate in the voting process.
He, however, warned them against serving as cannon fodder to any political party or actor.
Wike pleaded with the church to be careful and resist those politicians, who came to mobilise them as if there was a religious war to wage.
He said: “It is not now that politics have come, you want to come and tell the church a different story for your own personal interest.”
