Governor Nyesom Wike says he has accepted Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He, however, said he will never ever accept party national chairman, Sen Iyorcha Ayu to remain in office before the elections.
Wike spoke when he hosted Cross River State PDP governorship and all state and national assembly candidates along with local government chairmen of his private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, on Wednesday night.
He also said genuine efforts to amicably resolve the impasse in the PDP were being frustrated by rent-seekers in the party.
Addressing his guests with South-South National Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, present, Wike fingered perceived “hyenas and rent seekers,” as remaining obstinate and averse to justice, fairness and equity in the party.
He said, “We’ve finished presidential primaries. We have a presidential candidate. Is Wike saying remove the presidential candidate? Is Wike saying remove the vice presidential candidate? So, what are you begging me for?
“All I am saying, will continue to say is you have taken president, give us national chairman. Nobody wants to speak the truth. If I am saying remove the presidential candidate, remove vice presidential candidate, then you will say why is he doing this.”
“He (Ayu) said, if the presidential candidate comes from the north, he will resign, which means he has had this in mind. Now, the thing has come to reality, now resign, he says no. And people are saying go and talk to Wike.
“I’ve accepted the presidential candidate, accepted the vice presidential candidate, what’s the problem again. You, fulfil your part. Let the South have something, that is all I’m preaching. You cannot have presidential candidate, national chairman, director general of the campaign.”
The governor described as hypocritical, PDP members criticising APC Muslim/Muslim ticket while supporting a particular region of the country to retain the presidency for another eight years.
“This is period the power game is being played. If you don’t have it now, forget it. If anybody tells you, let Ayu resign after election is conducted, then you are a foolish person. This is the time decision is being made.
“This is the time the presidential candidate, national chairman and the leader of campaign will sit, when election is won in February, before the president is sworn in, decisions would have been made.”