Governor Wike reveals why Peter Obi left PDP for LP
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has narrated why the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Governor said the presidential candidate left the party because some political actors in the party maintained that the north needed to retain power.
The Governor made this revelation while hosting leadership of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Worldwide.
In a statement released by the media assistant to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, he said Obi made up his mind to dump the party when Lamido disclosed that the north would retain power in 2023.
Wike said, “I supported that power must come to the south. When Obi came here, I gave him all the logistics; vehicles, and other support and paid for the stadium, but some other persons applied and I refused. You should know me too well by now.
“Obi was running with us. I knew when Obi left. He was principled and he said he can’t stand it, people should say the truth. He went to see Sule Lamido in Jigawa, not in Dutse, but in a village that will take you more than four or five hours drive from Dutse the capital.
“You know what he told Obi? He didn’t tell him that look, you came late and I have chosen somebody. He said it is the north that will produce the next president. That was how Obi left saying why is he wasting time. Ask him, that’s how he left PDP.
“And that was what I saw at the convention ground. Within minutes, knowing that I was going to win, your sons were all the ones who did everything and sabotaged me. I said ok, no problem.
“But I still maintained that look, if you have taken the presidential candidate you can’t take chairmanship again, give us back the chairman and I still stand by that and if you don’t do that whatever you see you take.”
Before the February 25 presidential election, the G5 Governors said the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu was a precondition to support Atiku’s presidency.
The Governors said the party should not keep the chairmanship position of the party in the north, as the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku was already from the north.
They called for the resignation of the chairman, to enable the party zone the chairmanship position of the south.
But, the national leadership of the party ignored the demands of the aggrieved members till the day of the presidential election which took place on February 25, 2023.
The G5 PDP governors were:
Nyesom Wike (Rivers),
Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia),
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu),
Samuel Ortom (Benue),
Seyi Makinde (Oyo).
