Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike said he’s angry with PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar because he lied against him and sent his associates to insult him.
Mr Wike came second in the presidential primaries that produced Mr Atiku as opposition party’s flag bearer in Abuja.
The duo parted ways when Mr Atiku picked Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate, instead of Mr Wike who was reportedly recommended by some members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).
A statement by Mr Wike’s Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said the Rivers governor spoke on Friday at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly after his arrival from Spain.
Governor Wike explained how Mr Atiku used the occasion of the unveiling of Okowa, and his appearance at Arise TV to lie against him.
The statement read, “But there comes a time that people will understand and know the true facts. So, obviously, whether I will speak is not in doubt, (it is) to let Nigerians know the actual truth.
“Having known the truth, whatever they decide to do with it is left for Nigerians. Because you can imagine, when the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, unveiled the vice presidential candidate, no right thinking lover of this party would say that the speech he made on that day was fair
“Forget about the favour seekers, forget about the scavengers. But I never reacted to it. That is because this party belongs to all of us. Thereafter, he (Atiku) appeared on Arise Television, see the statement he made. Many lies were told and you said I should not react to some of those issues. That would not be fair.”
Mr Wike explained that after the PDP primary, he returned to Rivers State to focus on fulfilling the remaining promises that he made to Rivers people.
He said, already a number of completed projects had been outlined for inauguration and when that was done, he would respond to all the lies peddled against him.
The governor said, “Assuming today, I’m not alive, obviously what they have said would be accepted as the truth. Look at his (Atiku) attack dogs, Sule Lamido, Babaginda Aliyu, Maina Waziri. Look at the statements they issued. Look at the abuses they rained on me, but I never reacted.
“And Nigerians will ask, you mean these things happened? So, it is important that as a person and for my own future, and for those who rally around me to say, look, this is not fair. So, I will make sure that I will react to them, line by line of the statements made by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar himself and his attack dogs.”
Mr Wike said he contested the presidential primary squarely and emerged in the second position, adding that he would not tolerate being disparaged.
“But every day, his people come up to attack me, to say one thing or the other. That’s quite unfair and so I should let Nigerians know at the appropriate time. That will be after the inauguration of projects that we have lined up.
“We will say look, this is not correct, so that posterity, history will be on our side that we have been able to keep the record straight. So, nobody should be in doubt whether I am going to speak on the issue of the PDP, issues of the primaries and other related matters.
“Nigerians will know what happen, Nigerians will know those who love this country, Nigerians will know what went behind. And that is to assure you that I am going to speak on that,” the governor said.
The governor clarified that former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, met with him in Spain, but said he was not sent by Alhaji Atiku, so nobody should think in such direction.
He wondered why Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who visited him at his place to solicit his support does not know the way to the house he once visited.
In his reaction, Atiku’s spokesperson, Mr Paul Ibe, said though some people might want to escalate the crisis, the former Vice President and PDP were focused on bringing the disagreement to a closure.
“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,” Mr Ibe told the Punch.
“That is our focus, and that is the focus of well meaning leaders, stakeholders, members of the party and even Nigerians who are desirous of a leadership that will change their fortunes. That is our preoccupation.”
