Wike Challenges PDP Governorship Aspirants to Primaries
Former Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has vowed to resist any attempt to impose a gubernatorial candidate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State and challenged other aspirants to be ready to face primaries.
Speaking at a world press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday to unveil his campaign office for his governorship ambition, Wike noted that many aspirants in the state were clamouring for zoning to actualise their aspirations.
His words: “I will not accept any attempt to impose any governorship candidate on the party. Let all the governorship aspirants go to the primaries to test their popularity. These are critical times, so it is in the interest of our party to put the best candidate forward for the 2015 governorship election.
“Why are they clamouring for zoning? If the other aspirants truly believe that they are popular, why are they shying away from participating in an open contest? Who among them can match Governor Chibuike Amaechi at the polls in 2015? Who among the aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can defeat me at the primaries?”
He describes as false the impression that he installed Felix Obuah through the court as the state chairman of the PDP so that Obuah, in turn, would reciprocate by supporting his governorship ambition by jettisoning the principle of rotation and zoning in the party’s constitution.
He explained: “Yes, I supported Obuah because I don’t like injustice. I felt Amaechi unjustly denied him of his right to emerge as the state chairman of the party. Obuah was unfairly treated by Amaechi. There is nothing wrong with fighting for your right. If you are unjustly treated, I will stand with you to fight. I cannot stand injustice”.
He dismissed the threat by some chieftains of the party from the riverine area that there will be protest votes against the PDP if he is presented as the candidate of the PDP.
He challenged the other aspirants on the platform of the PDP to be ready to meet him at the primary with November 29, adding that no amount of threat would dissuade him from running for the governorship ticket.
His words: “My involvement in the race is because of circumstances that were unforeseen before now. As for those who are talking of protest votes, I make bold to say that the Ogonis will vote for me; the Kalabaris will vote for me. I have done my home work very well. Even though I was a minister working in Abuja, there was no weekend that I was not in Rivers State. I am not an Abuja-based politician. Governor Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) know that they cannot match me at the electoral field.
Wike, who described the state as a “monument of abandoned projects,” promised to transform the state into a viable economic hub if elected governor. He assured the people that he would put an end to the culture of “indiscriminate borrowing which has depleted the financial resources of the state.”
Wike equally berated Amaechi for celebrating the Supreme Court judgment that brought him to government, while ironically crippling the judiciary in the state.
The PDP governorship aspirant spoke in Abonema, during a rally where he addressed would-be delegates of the party from the four local councils of Akuku Toro, Asari Toro, Degema and Bonny.
He said for a man who benefitted from the candour of the judiciary, it was unfortunate that he has locked up the courts to deny the less-privileged indigenes of the state access to justice.
Speaking further, Wike regretted that instead of presenting his own candidate, the outgoing governor is busy campaigning for himself.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Wike wondered why Amaechi was losing sleep over PDP candidates.
He said: “Amaechi is happy for Supreme Court, but Amaechi has crippled the judiciary. Amaechi is siphoning Rivers money, but he will lose presidential and governorship elections.
“Amaechi is spending on PDP governorship aspirants because he cannot present a candidate of the APC hat can face me. I will win the PDP primary by the support of PDP members and will go ahead to win the governorship election.”
In an address, an Ijaw leader, Chief Precious Elegema said its no coincidence that Wike is visiting the Ijaws to promote his governorship candidacy. He thanked Wike for choosing his proposed deputy from the Ijaws.
He said though the Ijaws are interested in becoming governor, at the moment, they fully support Wike. He added that Rivers State is at a moment of decision, hence the need to support a strong candidate who will liberate the state.
Also speaking, Chief David Briggs, former Commissioner in Rivers State said the Kalabari people are working with Wike for future reasons.
He noted that the people have entered a contract with Wike for the development of the state.
King Hope Dan Obusenga, a traditional leader of Oceania in Akuku Toro Local Government Area, said even before Wike started his aspiration, he had started his developmental projects in the area, touching the lives of the people.
He stressed that Wike stopped Amaechi’s impunity in the area, ensuring the posting of soldiers in the area to maintain peace.
According to him, if Wike as a minister could promote peace in the area, he would promote infrastructural development. He donated N10million to the Wike campaign funds.
High point of the programme was the commissioning of the Wike Campaign office in Abonema by Chief Ferdinand Anabaraba.
Speaking at a world press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday to unveil his campaign office for his governorship ambition, Wike noted that many aspirants in the state were clamouring for zoning to actualise their aspirations.
His words: “I will not accept any attempt to impose any governorship candidate on the party. Let all the governorship aspirants go to the primaries to test their popularity. These are critical times, so it is in the interest of our party to put the best candidate forward for the 2015 governorship election.
“Why are they clamouring for zoning? If the other aspirants truly believe that they are popular, why are they shying away from participating in an open contest? Who among them can match Governor Chibuike Amaechi at the polls in 2015? Who among the aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can defeat me at the primaries?”
He describes as false the impression that he installed Felix Obuah through the court as the state chairman of the PDP so that Obuah, in turn, would reciprocate by supporting his governorship ambition by jettisoning the principle of rotation and zoning in the party’s constitution.
He explained: “Yes, I supported Obuah because I don’t like injustice. I felt Amaechi unjustly denied him of his right to emerge as the state chairman of the party. Obuah was unfairly treated by Amaechi. There is nothing wrong with fighting for your right. If you are unjustly treated, I will stand with you to fight. I cannot stand injustice”.
He dismissed the threat by some chieftains of the party from the riverine area that there will be protest votes against the PDP if he is presented as the candidate of the PDP.
He challenged the other aspirants on the platform of the PDP to be ready to meet him at the primary with November 29, adding that no amount of threat would dissuade him from running for the governorship ticket.
His words: “My involvement in the race is because of circumstances that were unforeseen before now. As for those who are talking of protest votes, I make bold to say that the Ogonis will vote for me; the Kalabaris will vote for me. I have done my home work very well. Even though I was a minister working in Abuja, there was no weekend that I was not in Rivers State. I am not an Abuja-based politician. Governor Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) know that they cannot match me at the electoral field.
Wike, who described the state as a “monument of abandoned projects,” promised to transform the state into a viable economic hub if elected governor. He assured the people that he would put an end to the culture of “indiscriminate borrowing which has depleted the financial resources of the state.”
Wike equally berated Amaechi for celebrating the Supreme Court judgment that brought him to government, while ironically crippling the judiciary in the state.
The PDP governorship aspirant spoke in Abonema, during a rally where he addressed would-be delegates of the party from the four local councils of Akuku Toro, Asari Toro, Degema and Bonny.
He said for a man who benefitted from the candour of the judiciary, it was unfortunate that he has locked up the courts to deny the less-privileged indigenes of the state access to justice.
Speaking further, Wike regretted that instead of presenting his own candidate, the outgoing governor is busy campaigning for himself.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Wike wondered why Amaechi was losing sleep over PDP candidates.
He said: “Amaechi is happy for Supreme Court, but Amaechi has crippled the judiciary. Amaechi is siphoning Rivers money, but he will lose presidential and governorship elections.
“Amaechi is spending on PDP governorship aspirants because he cannot present a candidate of the APC hat can face me. I will win the PDP primary by the support of PDP members and will go ahead to win the governorship election.”
In an address, an Ijaw leader, Chief Precious Elegema said its no coincidence that Wike is visiting the Ijaws to promote his governorship candidacy. He thanked Wike for choosing his proposed deputy from the Ijaws.
He said though the Ijaws are interested in becoming governor, at the moment, they fully support Wike. He added that Rivers State is at a moment of decision, hence the need to support a strong candidate who will liberate the state.
Also speaking, Chief David Briggs, former Commissioner in Rivers State said the Kalabari people are working with Wike for future reasons.
He noted that the people have entered a contract with Wike for the development of the state.
King Hope Dan Obusenga, a traditional leader of Oceania in Akuku Toro Local Government Area, said even before Wike started his aspiration, he had started his developmental projects in the area, touching the lives of the people.
He stressed that Wike stopped Amaechi’s impunity in the area, ensuring the posting of soldiers in the area to maintain peace.
According to him, if Wike as a minister could promote peace in the area, he would promote infrastructural development. He donated N10million to the Wike campaign funds.
High point of the programme was the commissioning of the Wike Campaign office in Abonema by Chief Ferdinand Anabaraba.
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