Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has told the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that his group will not back down on their demand that the National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign and cede his position to the South.
Wike said this when his political associates and Rivers elders led by the Chairman, Rivers Elders Council (REC), Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, visited his private residence in Rumueprikom to felicitate with him on his birthday on Tuesday.
The Governor in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said he had no personal problem with Atiku.
But he said for peace to return to the party, the chairmanship position must be given to the South before the 2023 election.
“I have no problem with presidential candidate. All I am saying is what is the interest of Rivers people? What is the interest of the Southsouth and the South?”
Wike recalled that about a year ago, Rivers elders urged him to contest for the presidency, which he heeded.
He said: “I don’t regret I ran for presidency. In the name of God, I am happy to make Rivers State proud. I am happy as far I am concerned. If they had allow it to be what it is supposed to be, I would won the election. But it’s okay. It has happened.
“People said because I lost election, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t lose election. This is my first time of trying to run for the president of Nigeria and we made impact. If it is easy let them go ahead. Are they not the ones begging.”
Wike further described as sheer hypocrisy the allegation that he foisted the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminalaye Fubara on the party, saying the emergence of Fubara was a collective decision reached after those who had indicated interest to succeed him failed to reach a consensus to produce one candidate.