Wike claimed that Atiku was the first person that broached the idea of making him his running mate, and also about the resignation of Ayu
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has given reasons why he thinks the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, can’t be trusted in next year’s election.
Wike, in a media chat televised live on Channels Television, said Atiku made three promises to him and reneged on all.
He said immediately after the presidential primaries of the PDP, Atiku visited him in his home in Abuja and said: “Ayu must go.”
Wike claimed that Atiku gave him the assurance on the ground that the north can’t produce the presidential candidate of the PDP and also retain the national chairmanship position.
Wike also claimed that Atiku was the first person that broached the idea of making him his running mate.
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Wike added that at their meeting with the PDP presidential candidate recently in London, Atiku told them that he had confronted Iyorchia Ayu if he indeed said he would resign should the north produce the presidential candidate of the PDP.
He said Ayu confirmed that he made the pledge. Wike said Atiku assured them that Ayu would resign within a week. He said Atiku has not kept that promise.
Wike also slammed the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, claiming he is very corrupt.
He alleged that Ayu collected millions in naira from some stakeholders of the party in Lagos on the pretext that governors of the party were not willing to fund the party. He said the money didn’t enter the account of the PDP.
Wike also alleged that a former minister of police affairs, Maina Waziri, was one of the arrowheads misleading Atiku. He said Maina Waziri lacks electoral value because PDP has never won his state, Yobe.
When asked what he would do if the party refuses to yield to his demand that ‘Ayu must go,’ Wike said “when we get to the bridge, we will know what to do.”
He was further asked if he would direct his people not to vote the PDP in the presidential election, he responded: “don’t put words in my mouth.”
But he insinuated that his people might vote the PDP in other elections apart from the presidential.
Stating that the alleged N1 billion bribe money Ayu took was to influence proceedings ahead of the party’s primaries in Abuja, Wike said: “Ayu is very corrupt. Ayu has an opportunity to challenge me. Some of the governors can tell you. Will he deny the fact that he collected N1 billion in Lagos?
“He met one of the presidential candidates, and said he did not think the governors will sponsor the party. He collected the money and it is not in PDP account. If he denies it, I will call some of the business men who arranged the money in Lagos. We are not even challenging him on that.”
Though he explained that the corruption allegation was not the reason for demanding the ouster of the party chairman from office, but to ensure that the South was adequately represented at the party top echelon, he insisted that Ayu must fulfill the promise he made before the primaries to resign if a presidential candidate emerged from the North.
His words: “Nobody forced Ayu to make the pledge on resignation if a Northerner emerged; he knew this was the practice. Was it Wike that told him to make a pledge? Will he deny the fact that he collected N1 billion from Lagos? He met one of the presidential aspirants towards that effect; let Ayu come out and deny and I will bring out the facts.”
