Victor Ezeja
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has mocked PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate.
Wike, who spoke at the Flag off of a road project in the State’s Emohua Local Government Area, on Monday, made scathing remarks about the candidacy of Atiku.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe claimed that, for Obasanjo to settle for Obi – leaving Atiku who was his vice president – the PDP presidential standard bearer would have had some very serious flaws.
Obasanjo, who was Nigeria’s President from 1999 to 2007, released an ‘open letter’ on Sunday where he endorsed Obi, saying he (Obi) had an edge over other presidential candidates in terms of character, integrity, and other leadership qualities needed to tackle Nigeria’s present challenges.
READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: Peter Obi’s More Qualified, Says Obasanjo
Reacting to the endorsement, Wike, who has together with four other PDP governors, been in running battle with Atiku and his supporters, said: “If you are a poor product, you are a poor product; and if you are a good product, you are a good product.”
“You worked for someone, and that person suggested another person to Nigerians; is that person me?
“I worked with someone for eight years, and we’re using it as a campaign to say that we did well while we were in office. However, my boss is now suggesting another person take their place, so clearly, something is seriously wrong.
“I was hoping Obasanjo wouldn’t say anything, so I was touched to see the letter last night.”
However, Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dino Melaye, swiftly reacted, berating Governor Wike for his comments against Atiku.
Melaye, in a statement he personally signed and released on Monday, said Wike should be ashamed of himself for continuously disrespecting Atiku, who did nothing to him.
The Kogi-born former Senator and House of Representatives member, said Wike should go ahead and support whoever he wants to support, adding that his insolent attitude towards Atiku was becoming unbearable and won’t be tolerated anymore.
The ex-lawmaker alleged that the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, did not trust Wike (who was then his Chief of Staff) enough to hand over power to him.
The statement reads: “Wike should be ashamed that he has constantly solicited the attention of Atiku by his continuous disrespect and unwarranted insult of a man who did nothing to you. Atiku’s only crime is that he won a transparent presidential primary. Wike was chief of staff to Amaechi but Amaechi did not trust him enough to hand over to him.
“I advise him to support whoever he wishes to support as we will no longer tolerate his insolent tendencies.
“The question is, is there something wrong with Wike that Amaechi did not hand over to him?
“Why will Prince Uche Secondus, Rt Hon. Austin Okpara, Sen. Lee Meaba, H:E Celestine Omehia, Chief Abiye Sikibo, Sen George Sekibo, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, etc, leave him unceremoniously for Atiku. Something is definitely wrong somewhere,” Melaye concluded.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
