Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has described his defeat in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary as ‘God’s will’.
Wike, who has been silent since the Saturday defeat, called on his supporters to remain calm.
Wike spoke on Monday when he returned to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital after losing out to Atiku Abubakar in the party’s presidential poll on Saturday in Abuja.
“It is God’s will, let us not bother ourselves so much,” Wike said.
He, meanwhile, accused an unnamed governor of sabotage, adding that he was tempted to obstruct the process when an aspirant who had spoken previously was allowed to return to the podium to pronounce his withdrawal in contravention to the guidelines of the election.
He said, “I have never seen how people can violate procedures and guidelines. Somebody has spoken, it is at that point he was speaking that he would have said I am withdrawing. You don’t call him back.
“I just said, ‘Look, this our party must not be destroyed.”
Wike equally accused southern governors of betrayal, saying, “Shame to those who will sell out their own. I have never seen a thing like that.
“No wonder we cannot move on with development. Look at, a region ganged up. Then, your own region cannot gang up.
“You became a tool to be used against the interest of your people and you think you have won. You have lost.”
He said his performance has raised the political profile of Rivers State and other minority groups in Nigeria, though he failed to clinch the PDP’s presidential ticket.
“In the political history of this country, you can count on us. We are not pushovers,” Wike said.
There is wide belief that the withdrawal of Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal before the commencement of the exercise on Saturday, played a huge role in Wike’s loss.
FirstNews earlier reported that Atiku on Monday met with Wike in Abuja for a reconciliatory meeting.