Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims that Governor Nyesom Wike banned its members from campaigning for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the State.
The State party’s Publicity Secretary, Tambari Gbara, stressed that Wike never banned party chieftains from campaigning for Atiku in Rivers State.
Gbara was reacting to claims by a former Rivers Southeast Senator, Ledogo Maeba, that Wike warned some chieftains of the party against campaigning for Atiku in the State.
Maeba said Wike had issued the warning after he and some chieftains of the party visited Atiku and apologized on behalf of the governor.
The former lawmaker said the governor reprimanded them for visiting Atiku without his consent.
Maeba said Wike also threatened that anyone who campaigned for Atiku in Rivers State without his permission would be dealt with.
However, Gbara challenged Maeba to prove his allegation that Wike issued a threat against anyone campaigning for Atiku in the State.
In a statement, Gbara said: “If the governor wants to make that statement, he would make it official, that, in the State, nobody should campaign for Atiku Abubakar.
“Governor Wike is not somebody that hides his feelings. If he wants to say that, I don’t think he would say it privately. So, the person making the allegation should come out and prove himself.
“He (Maeba) should be able to furnish Rivers people and Nigerians with evidence.”
Meanwhile, Governor Wike opened up on his regret while making a veiled reference to losing out on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for 2023 which ruled him out of the possibility of emerging the next President of Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday, Wike who lamented the dearth of committed leaders in Nigeria revealed that he regrets not having the opportunity to deal with bandits, terrorists and other criminals operating in the country.
Newsflash Nigeria reports he expressed his mind while speaking during the commissioning of the dualised Ogbunuabali-Eastern bypass road in Rivers State.
Wike who lost the PDP ticket to Atiku Abubakar however said he will continue to serve the people of Rivers State with passion because of his commitment to the people.
In his words, “I challenge everybody. The problem we have in this country today is that we don’t have people who have that passion, and who want to serve their people.
“The only regret I have is that I don’t have the opportunity to tell bandits ‘enough is enough’. If I have the opportunity, the bandits know their time will be gone. It’s unfortunate I don’t have it.
“But this one I have, I will use it and serve my people so that they will be happy and know that they deserve the best.”
Wike’s loss at the PDP presidential primaries is understood to have created a gulf between him and the leadership of the party.
The eventual emergence of Ifeanyi Okowa as the PDP vice presidential candidate has further widened the gap.
