Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party negotiated with President Muhammadu Buhari and helped him to win the 2019 presidential election.
He made the allegation when he commissioned the Etche Campus of Rivers State University in the Etche Local Government Area of the state.
“When they were going to negotiate with Buhari in 2019, they negotiated with Buhari, that’s why Buhari won the election. They came to me and I said no negotiation; PDP must win. I said no,” Wike said.
He called on his supporters expressing fears of something evil happening to him over his recent attacks on some PDP members not to panic, saying that he cannot be killed no matter the intimidation and threats.
He said, “If you are a Rivers man, you don’t need to be intimidated by anybody…We must take our rightful position. So, nobody should be worried. Intimidating me? Some people tell me, ‘Oh, be careful, they will kill you’. Kill who? Who told you, you will not die first?
“Those of you who are panicking, you don’t need to panic. I have God, what are you afraid of? They have chased us, they fought us but today we are standing very strong,”
According to Wike, Rivers State contributed the most to the successes of the PDP since 1999.
He, however, lamented that the state had not benefited from her dedication to the party.
“Since 1999, I want Rivers people to always reflect on this, to ponder over it. Since 1999, we brought the highest votes for the Peoples Democratic Party. Since 1999, I challenge any state to say they brought more votes than Rivers State. Since 1999, I challenge any state in terms of support for the PDP, which state has given much support than Rivers State. Since 1999, show me one federal project in Rivers State
“If you want our votes, tell me what do you give to Rivers State? Nothing can be for dash again. Enough is enough of using Rivers State and thinking we are foolish people and we don’t know what to do with our money.
“Enough is enough of using Rivers people and saying oh they will bring the votes and when they bring the votes they will push us away.
“Tell us what you are going to do for the people of Rivers State. Not (for) me; there is nothing any of them can do for me but I am interested in my state, nobody can buy me,” he said.
Speaking further he said that in 2023 “I am not going to look for a position from anybody. Have I not been a minister before? So, what are you now going to entice me with as a person? Nothing. If you don’t tell me what the state will gain, then forget me.
“No amount of intimidation, no amount of threats. This government fought us but we survived. Most of them who are talking now, if this Federal Government had descended on them, they would have crumbled.”
After Wike lost the PDP presidential primary to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, all has not been well between him and the PDP, especially with the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The Rivers State governor and his group in the PDP are insisting that Ayu must resign in the spirit of equity and fairness to southerners.