•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State on Friday reminded the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar how his boss former President Olusegun Obasanjo knelt down before him before he could be allowed to run for second term in office.
Governor Wike while speaking on Friday during the flag-off of the construction of Eneka-Igbo Etche Road, said he(Atiku) gave his former boss some conditions before he could allowed him to run in 2003.
Recall that the G-5 have been at loggerheads with the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar following the fall out at the party’s presidential primary.
Wike, who lost to Atiku, believes the process was unfair and the five governors maintain that the PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, a northerner, must resign.
Speaking, Wike said,”You say we are giving condition, but you forget history. In 2002- 2003 when president Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to run for second tenure, he knelt down before his vice president and said my vice please allow me to run.
“You know one of the conditions he gave him, Tony Anenih must be sacked as the Minister of Works and Tony Anenih must not be in the presidential campaign council. Obasanjo obliged and sacked Tony Anenih as Minister of Works and removed him from presidential campaign council.
“This is a president and his own vice giving him condition; a retired General knelt down and was given conditions.
“We (G5) are not even doing that; we are not saying sack this one; we are only saying that the constitution of our party must be respected based on what the National Chairman said and based on what you(referring to Atiku)told me in my house,” he said
However,the governor has debunked the rumour that their (G-5) recent trip to Europe was to seal an agreement with a particular presidential candidate.
He said some people speculated and insinuated so many unfounded things without a proof of any pictorial or audio, to affirm their claims that the G5 met with a presidential candidate in Europe.
“They said,Wike had an interview with BBC and he said we have a deal with so and so. Meanwhile, no video, no audio. And some of you waste your time listening to such things,”
“Don’t you know that when I want to do something, I will do it? Don’t you know? Do you need to speculate? You don’t need to speculate. They said there is trouble but there is no trouble. What we have is an introduction to the trouble that is going to come!
“So, my dear people, I just want to tell you that whatever decision I will take, I will let you know. I cannot take any decision without taking advice from you, the governor said
Wike however, urged people on the side of Atiku to leave members of the G-5 alone
He said he just want to enjoy himself with his family.
He said: “We will go and swim, you are worried, yet you tell Nigerians you are not bothered.
When I want to do something I will do it. You don’t need to speculate.
“So, why do you border about us, G- 5 governors you said you can win without us. Leave us alone.
“Leave me alone, leave Seyi Makinde alone, Leave Ortom alone, leave Ikpeazu alone, leave Ugwuanyi alone and focus on your problems.
“I am not one who will go and see someone and hide. Who am I hiding from? Who is that person that will threaten me? He said he will sack me, go ahead, I am not worried. You that is sacking is worried.
“Try and see how you will survive it. So I just went to enjoy myself and family. Don’t you see the way I am looking now? Don’t you like the way I am looking.
“If you check their BP it’s very high. My BP is like a kid bring a doctor to check. Their own is running high every day. They are killing themselves for nothing.
“So, just focus on what we are doing and forget their rumour mongering. Instead of them to focus on their campaign …. Am I contesting election? You that is contesting go and focus on your campaign. Tell the people what you will do when you enter.”
The Rivers State governor also took a swipe on the former National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus,who claimed that he is his benefactor.
Wike stated that at no point in his political career did Prince Uche Secondus sponsor him to any political office except for the fact that he accompanied him on some lobbying trips.
Governor Wike insisted that he is rather the benefactor to Prince Uche Secondus because against fierce opposition and rejection from the likes of Sule Lamido, Austin Opara, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Celestine Omehia and Lee Maeba, he sponsored him to become the national chairman of PDP and removed him later when he wanted to make his nephew governor of Rivers State.
“You wanted to be National Chairman first to impose your Nephew or your Cousin as you may call him to become governorship candidate of PDP in Rivers State. I said not here, it won’t work. We had to kick you out first and we did, and you are out.”
He listed the Nsirim, Senator John Mbata and the Dr. Odili’s families as sponsors at various times of his political dreams that had made him what he has become.
Meanwhile, Wike has accused Atiku of holding secret meetings with governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“They said there is trouble, there is no trouble. What we have is the introduction to the trouble that will come.
“Please my dear people, don’t border yourselves. They said we had meeting with somebody, what is your problem with it. Has Atiku not held meetings with governors of APC, ask him. As he is in Dubai, don’t we know what is going on?